Guidance

Summary of changes

Updated 22 October 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-eif-inspections-and-the-eyfs/summary-of-changes

Registered early years providers page

October 2024

The ‘What if I have concerns about my inspection?’ section has been updated to clarify when childminders can contact Ofsted after an inspection. This aligns with changes to the ‘Early years inspection handbook’.

March 2024

New question added: 

  • What if I have concerns about my inspection?

Question removed: 

  • If I complain about my inspection, will this go against me in my next one?

We have amended the text for the following questions: 

  • Is it only managers who can attend the feedback session at the end of an inspection?
  • Will inspectors expect all staff to have maintained their paediatric first aid (PFA) certificates?

January 2023

New questions added:

  • I keep some documents off site. Will I have to provide these during the inspection if the inspector asks to see them?
  • How can I ensure I am meeting ratio requirements in my setting when a senior member of staff is absent?
  • Can an administrator or committee member be considered suitable to take charge in the absence of the manager?
  • Will inspectors expect all staff to have maintained their paediatric first aid (PFA) certificates?
  • Does Ofsted expect me to use formal words with children?
  • What should I expect from the ‘learning walk’?
  • How will leadership and management be looked at during my inspection?
  • Is the notification call the start of the inspection?
  • What if I get my notification call at an inconvenient time?
  • During the notification call, why do inspectors ask about the children that attend the setting?
  • Will there be more than one inspector at my inspection?
  • Do I have to allow inspectors to use their phones during an inspection?
  • Will inspectors ask to see my public liability insurance?
  • Will the inspector need to have a meeting with the manager when they arrive?
  • Can I leave the children alone with the inspector?
  • Will the inspector go with staff on outings with the children?
  • How will inspectors get the views of parents?

Sections removed:

  • What impact have the EYFS reforms had on Ofsted inspections?
  • COVID-19

We have amended the text for the following questions:

  • Should I store my paperwork in a folder marked ‘Ofsted’?
  • How will inspectors consider the progress children have made at my setting?
  • Will inspectors expect providers to show the progress of a child tracked against ‘Development Matters’?
  • Will Ofsted prefer to see paper assessments rather than those recorded electronically?
  • Do I need to produce a curriculum map?
  • Are there flexibilities in place for providers that are facing recruitment and retention issues?
  • Will I always have notice of my inspection?
  • How long will my inspection take?
  • Will I always need to be available to speak to the inspector?
  • Can my setting achieve a judgement that is more than one grade above its previous inspection outcome?
  • If the setting complains about its inspection, will this go against it in the next one?

October 2022

Update to include paragraph 3.9 of the EYFS framework.

Text added to ‘Will Ofsted want to see as much paperwork as possible? Should childminders store their paperwork in a folder marked ‘Ofsted’?’.

July 2022

Updates throughout to reflect paragraph references in the early years handbook published on 11 July 2022.

Text amended in the following:

  • What impact have the EYFS reforms had on Ofsted inspections?
  • Will Ofsted negatively judge settings for having ‘stripped-back, COVID-safe provision’, for example provision with no soft furnishings, dressing-up clothes, pillows or cosy spaces, and no sand or water?
  • Are there flexibilities in place for providers that are facing recruitment and retention issues or experiencing high numbers of staff off sick? Will Ofsted take this into consideration when inspecting?’
  • Can Ofsted carry out inspections without any notice?

New questions:

  • What’s happened to the COVID-19 section which was in the previous edition of the early years inspection handbook?
  • Can before- and after-school clubs and holiday provision use Ofsted logos?

December 2021

Updates throughout to reflect:

  • the revised early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework that came into force on 1 September 2021
  • paragraph references to the early years handbook published on 1 September 2021

Text added to the following:

  • Will Ofsted expect providers to show the progress of a child tracked against the revised non-statutory guidance, ‘Development matters’?
  • Will Ofsted prefer to see paper assessments rather than those recorded electronically?
  • How will Ofsted inspect the curriculum? Do registered providers need to produce a curriculum map?

New sections:

  • How will inspectors consider progress?
  • Does Ofsted expect practitioners to use the government’s non-statutory guidance, Development matters, when developing and shaping their curriculums?

The EYFS in schools page

January 2023

New questions added

Does Ofsted expect me to use formal language when speaking with children?

Sections removed

COVID-19

July 2022

Updates throughout to reflect paragraph references in the early years handbook published on 11 July 2022.

Text amended in the following:

  • What impact have the EYFS reforms had on Ofsted inspections?
  • Will Ofsted negatively judge settings for having ‘stripped-back, COVID-safe provision’, for example provision with no soft furnishings, dressing-up clothes, pillows or cosy spaces, and no sand or water?
  • Are there flexibilities in place for providers that are facing recruitment and retention issues or experiencing high numbers of staff off sick? Will Ofsted take this into consideration when inspecting?

New questions:

  • What are the changes to the early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP)?
  • What’s happened to the COVID-19 section which was in the previous edition of the school inspection handbook?

December 2021

Updates throughout to reflect:

  • the revised EYFS framework that came into force on 1 September 2021
  • links to the school inspection handbook

Text added to the following:

  • Will Ofsted expect to see curriculum maps for every area of learning in the early years?
  • Will Ofsted expect providers to show the progress of a child tracked against the revised non-statutory guidance, ‘Development matters’?
  • When carrying out deep dives, will inspectors want to see national curriculum subjects, rather than EYFS areas of learning, being taught in Reception?
  • Does Ofsted expect the national curriculum in a primary school to start when children first join in the early years?

New additions:

  • Does Ofsted expect schools to use the government’s non-statutory guidance, Development Matters, when developing and shaping their EYFS curriculum?
  • How will inspectors consider progress?
  • When should schools start teaching early reading?

Childminders

October 2024

The ‘What if I have concerns about my inspection?’ section has been updated to clarify when childminders can contact Ofsted after an inspection. This aligns with changes to the ‘Early years inspection handbook’.

March 2024

New questions added: 

  • What if I have concerns about my inspection?
  • Can anyone else attend the feedback session at the end of my inspection?

Question removed: 

  • If I complain about my inspection, will this go against me in my next one?

January 2023

New questions added:

  • I care for children before and after school. What type of inspection will I have?
  • Does Ofsted expect me to use formal language when speaking with children?
  • What should I expect from the ‘learning walk’?
  • Is the notification call the start of my inspection?
  • What if I get my notification call at an inconvenient time?
  • During the notification call, why do inspectors ask about children I look after?
  • Will there be more than one inspector at my inspection?
  • Do I have to allow inspectors to use their phone during an inspection?
  • Will inspectors ask to see my public liability insurance?
  • What type of inspection will I have if I only have older children present at the time?
  • Can I leave the children alone with the inspector?
  • Will the inspector go with me on outings with the children?
  • How will inspectors get the views of parents?

We have amended the text for the following questions:

  • Should I store my paperwork in a folder marked ‘Ofsted’?
  • How will inspectors consider the progress children make at my setting?
  • Will inspectors expect me to show the progress of a child tracked against ‘Development Matters’?
  • Will inspectors prefer to see paper assessments rather than those recorded electronically?
  • Do childminders need to produce a curriculum map?
  • Will I always have notice of my inspection?
  • How long will my inspection take?
  • How should I use ‘Part 3 – Applying the EIF in different contexts’ when preparing for my inspection?
  • How will inspectors look at leadership and management?
  • Will I always need to be available to speak to the inspector?
  • Can I achieve a judgement more than one grade above my previous inspection outcome?
  • If I complain about my inspection, will this go against me in my next one?

Sections removed

The COVID-19

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