Getting ready for your Ofsted inspection

When the call comes

Childminders are usually telephoned a few days ahead, because Ofsted has to find a day you are working. The call itself is short.

• Expect a call up to five days before, to confirm which days you work

  Group settings get a call by 10am on the working day before instead. An inspection can also come with no notice at all, which Ofsted says is usually where it has concerns.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• On the call the inspector confirms your details and asks about conflicts of interest

  It is not a test. The inspector lets you know an inspection is happening, explains what type it is and how long it will take, and checks there are no conflicts of interest or concerns.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Tell the parents and carers before the inspection takes place

  This one is on you, and it is easy to forget in the hour after the call.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• Put aside about three hours

  “For childminders, inspections normally last around 3 hours.”

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• You do not need anyone else there

  Childminders are the leaders of their own settings. Ofsted says that having nobody to invite to the inspection meetings does not count against you in any way, and there is no expectation of a nominee.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

What you must be able to show

Two things, and Ofsted says they can be on a screen or on paper. This is the short list the inspection information document makes a requirement.

• Your paediatric first aid arrangements

  “Inspectors must be able to access... paediatric first-aid arrangements”

  Whose certificate covers the children, and the date it runs out. If an assistant is sometimes alone with the children, theirs too.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Your DBS and vetting records

  Worth knowing before you spend an evening digging: Ofsted says inspectors do not need to see the DBS checks themselves for childminders, their known assistants or household members. Ofsted saw those at registration. What you show is the record of what has been checked.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

What the inspector may ask to see

The policies the EYFS requires, and then this list. Not all of it will come up, and an inspector asking for something you have never been asked for before is not a sign that anything is wrong.

• The policies the EYFS requires

  Nine of them are required in writing by the framework. The other twenty-six most lists include are expected practice, which is a different thing — see our list of all thirty-five.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Referrals to the local authority designated officer, and how each one ended

  “referrals made to the local authority designated officer for safeguarding, and their resolution”

  The resolution, not only the referral.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Children who are an open case to social care with a multi-agency plan

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Any child who is there on the day but not on your register

  Which is the practical reason to sign children in as they arrive and not at the end of the day.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Your accident records

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Records of any child you have refused a place

  Most childminders have never kept this, and it is on Ofsted’s list. A page in a notebook with the date and the reason is enough.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• A log of any discrimination, including racist incidents

  “logs of incidents of discrimination, including racist incidents”

  Including none: being able to say you keep the log and it is empty is the answer.

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

• Any complaints, and how each was resolved

  Ofsted: Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026

What happens on the day

Most of the inspection is the inspector watching you with the children and talking to you about them. Very little of it is paperwork.

• The inspector watches the children at play, and watches you with them

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• The inspector talks to you and to the children

  And discusses what the children know and can do. Knowing the children well is the thing being looked at, and you already do.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• Your knowledge of the early years foundation stage is assessed

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• Know the seven areas you are judged on

  Safeguarding; inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; behaviour, attitudes and routines; children’s welfare and well-being; and leadership and governance. Curriculum and teaching, and achievement, do not apply if you only care for children before and after school and in the holidays.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• Safeguarding is met or not met; the rest have five grades

  Exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

Afterwards

What arrives, when, and the one thing you have to do with it.

• You get a report card covering the seven areas

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• Ofsted publishes it within five working days of sending it to you

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• Give a copy to the parents and carers of the children you look after

  And to anybody else who asks for one.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• Know when the next one is due

  Usually within four years if every area is at the expected standard or above; within about twelve months if any area needs attention; within about six months if any area needs urgent improvement. Ofsted can come sooner if it has concerns.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

• If you have just registered, expect your first inspection within 18 months

  Then at least every four years.

  Ofsted: Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

Where all of this comes from

• Early years inspection information, for use from September 2026Ofsted
• Being inspected as a childminder or childcare providerOfsted
• Early years inspection toolkit, operating guide and informationOfsted
• Early years foundation stage statutory framework for childmindersDepartment for Education

Read against the material in force from September 2026 — the inspection toolkit, the operating guide and the inspection information document, which replaced the 2023 handbook. Last checked 1 November 2026. This is a guide to what Ofsted publishes, not legal advice, and Tea Tin is not affiliated with Ofsted. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we will fix it.

Tea Tin keeps this on one screen

The app has an Inspection day screen that shows these in the same three groups, filled in from your own records: whose first aid certificate is current, which policies are due a review, your accident log ready to print. It also says plainly which of Ofsted’s list it does not hold, so you find that out now and not with an inspector in the room.

There is also a list of all thirty-five policies and a ratio checker, both free and both without an account.

Join the waiting list →