News
Early Years News July 2026
Welcome to July - the start of summer and for many providers the joys of the school holidays. This time of year often marks a change in pace for many early years providers as the days are warmer and longer. … read more
Children's Welfare and Wellbeing - Ofsted Evaluation
The 'Children's welfare and wellbeing' evaluation area in the Ofsted early years inspection toolkit focuses on how effectively a setting promotes children's welfare, care, safety, emotional well-being and healthy development so that children thrive. … read more
Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit Changes from September 2026
Ofsted inspection updates - main points for childminders DfE has published a summary of changes to its inspection toolkit, operating guide and further information document which will take effect from September 2026. … read more
Early Years News June 2026
Welcome to your Childcare.co.uk newsletter for June 2026. … read more
DfE Update: Banned Dog Breeds
A message from the Department for Education In March 2026, Minister Bailey wrote a letter informing early years settings of amendments that the Department intends to make to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory frameworks later this year. The letter mainly focused on safer sleep but also referred to potential changes to ensure that children are suitably protected from banned dog breeds in childcare settings. … read more
Safer Sleep Outside
When the safer sleep requirements were published by DfE recently, Childcare.co.uk wrote to DfE to ask about exemptions for those providers who have babies and children sleeping outside, safely cocooned in buggies or prams. … read more
Early Years News May 2026
This May 2026 newsletter marks a year of monthly newsletters from Childcare.co.uk. … read more
Ofsted Inspection Reports Outcomes (part 3)
We can pick out comments from recent Ofsted inspection cards and talk about them - that's what we have done when reviewing reports in part 1 and part 2 of our inspection outcome blogs series for childminder inspections. We must, of course, be cautious - sometimes, inspection outcomes are very specific to what the inspector sees in the specific early years setting. … read more
Early Years News April 2026
Welcome to April and spring! It's hopefully a time for longer days and sunny outside play in gardens and parks. What are you up to with the children this month? In many early years settings, April is about gardening with the children, growing herbs for sensory play and cooking and planting new seeds. … read more
Ofsted Inspection Reports Outcomes (part 2)
Ofsted introduced their new inspection framework from 10th November 2025. It is clear from reading the framework documents that Ofsted inspection has changed. … read more