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Checking childcare quality and Ofsted

OfstedOfstedOfsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. It inspects services providing education and skills for learners of all ages. It also inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.  registers most childcare provision, either on the Early Years Register or the Childcare Register and regularly inspects childcare providers to ensure that quality standards are being met.

Inspections are used to provide guidance and support to ensure that children are meeting appropriate milestones as outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

If a childcare provider is registered to receive the 2, 3 and 4 Year old free entitlement funding they have met additional criteria set by the Local AuthorityLocal AuthoritySometimes known as the council, a local authority is an organisation that is officially responsible for public services and facilities in a particular area..

Parents should always check that a childcare setting is OfstedOfstedOfsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. It inspects services providing education and skills for learners of all ages. It also inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.  registered. The childcare setting will be happy to show you their latest inspection report and their registration certificate must be clearly displayed.

Childcare inspections, what they cover and grades

Up until November 2025 Ofsted inspected each provider and they awarded a grade for the quality of:

To reach an overall judgement, Ofsted inspectors looked at:

  • overall effectiveness
  • the quality of education
  • behaviour and attitudes
  • personal development
  • leadership and management

The grades awarded were:

  • Grade 1: Outstanding
  • Grade 2: Good
  • Grade 3: Requires Improvement
  • Grade 4: Inadequate

Providers inspected due this period will be show this grade.

From November 2025, Ofsted no longer provide an overall effectiveness grade for any provider inspected under the framework.  

Safeguarding is evaluated on a ‘met’/‘not met’ scale for providers.

The evaluation scale for each evaluation area, other than safeguarding, is:

Exceptional (highest quality provision): an evaluation area can be graded ‘exceptional’ when all the strong standards have been met and if it meets all the additional standards in the ‘exceptional’ section of the toolkit.

Strong standard: an evaluation area can be graded ‘strong standard’ when all the expected standards and all the strong standards have been met.

Expected standard: an evaluation area can be graded ‘expected standard’ when all the standards are met – this includes meeting the legal requirements and the expectations set out in statutory guidance, as well as the professional standards required of the particular type of provision, where these apply.

Needs attention: an evaluation area can be graded ‘needs attention’ when the ‘expected standard’ has not been met because some aspects of provision are inconsistent, limited in scope or impact and/or not fully meeting the legal requirements.

Urgent improvement (lowest quality provision): an evaluation area can be graded ‘urgent improvement’ when it needs urgent action to provide a suitable standard of education and/or care for children and learners. 

For more information on the new inspection framework and frequently asked questions regarding early years inspections. 

Further information about inspection reports and what Ofsted does can be found on the Ofsted website, or by calling 03001 234666.

Viewing the Ofsted report for a provider

You can find a link to Ofsted inspection reports for childcare settings in the 'Quality' tab in the individual providers' Family Information Directory record.

You can also search for inspection reports on the Ofsted website.

What to do if you are worried about practice or provision at a childcare setting

You can contact Ofsted directly using this email address: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk or by calling 0300 123 1231.

Ofsted's powers are limited: they cannot resolve disputes between you and the provider. Their role is to make sure that the childcare provider is following all registration requirements and they will take action if necessary.

If you complain, Ofsted will review the information you provide and decide what to do. They may carry out an immediate inspection, ask the provider to take action or work with other agencies to look at any issues.

However, they will not contact you to let you know the outcome.

You can find out more about their powers in 'Information for parents about Ofsted’s role in regulating childcare'.

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