Ofsted handbooks and frameworks
All handbooks and frameworks for the remits that Ofsted inspects and/or regulates.
Education inspection framework (EIF)
This framework sets out Ofsted’s inspection principles and the main judgements that inspectors make.
Schools handbook
Guidance on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under the EIF.
Independent schools handbooks
Guidance on inspecting non-association independent schools in England under the EIF.
Early years handbook
Guidance on inspecting registered early years and childcare providers under the EIF.
Area SEND: framework and handbook
Ofsted’s inspection principles, guidance and the main judgements that inspectors make when inspecting area SEND.
Unregistered schools handbook
Guidance for inspectors and investigators of unregistered independent schools.
Further education and skills handbooks
Guidance for inspectors on inspecting further education and skills providers under the EIF.
Social care frameworks
Guidance on:
- social care common inspection framework
- joint targeted area inspection (JTAI) of the multi-agency response to children and families who need help
- inspecting local authority services for children (ILACS)
- inspecting secure training centres
- inspecting Cafcass
Initial teacher education (ITE) inspection framework and handbook
Ofsted’s inspection principles, guidance and the main judgements that inspectors make when inspecting ITE.
Early career framework and national professional qualification
The framework and handbook for inspecting lead providers of early career framework (ECF) and national professional qualification (NPQ) programmes in England.
Accreditation visits to online providers handbook
Ofsted’s handbook on how we will carry out suitability checks and visits to providers that have applied for accreditation and to accredited providers.
Childminder agencies: inspection guidance
Guidance for childminder agencies about the main activities carried out by inspectors. It also sets out the judgements that inspectors will make.
Carrying out Childcare Register compliance inspections
This guidance is for Ofsted inspectors carrying out inspections of providers that are only registered on either or both parts of the Childcare Register.