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.

The DfE has also released a blog about the changes. The blog doesn't introduce any new inspection requirements beyond the changes to the toolkit, but it does give important context about how inspectors are expected to interpret and apply them, which might be useful for you to read through. The emphasis is stronger on children's welfare and wellbeing being inseparable from safeguarding, rather than safeguarding being viewed as a standalone policy area.

I thought it might be useful to look at the changes for childminders. Reassuringly they are less about paperwork and more about what inspectors will now focus on during inspection. However, there might be some useful paperwork to use alongside the key points - I will link to it as relevant.

Key points for childminders

Stronger focus on safeguarding and preventing harm

Ofsted has added more detail about responsibilities to protect children from harm. Inspectors will also be clearer that safeguarding will be graded 'not met' where the quality of care has led to children being harmed or placed at risk of harm.

What this means for childminders:

• Be confident explaining your safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Keep your safeguarding policy updated and follow it where necessary.
• Make sure any concerns are recorded and acted upon appropriately - do you need to report to Ofsted?
• Be able to demonstrate how you keep children safe every day - what more can you do?
• Keep training up to date and be ready to show your basic and DSL certificates to your inspector.

Bear in mind the inspection toolkit 'met' column is the minimum standard for safeguarding.

The DfE blog emphasises that safeguarding includes not only protection from abuse and neglect, but also children's physical health, emotional wellbeing, safe care practices, and everyday welfare. This helps explain why Ofsted has strengthened the inspection focus on safe sleep, safer eating, weaning and children's wellbeing. These will, in future, be treated as safeguarding issues.

Inspectors are looking for evidence that providers actively identify risks and take steps to reduce them before children are harmed, rather than simply responding when something goes wrong. You might be asked to explain, for example, how you risk assess the house and outings, how you adapt routines for different ages of children or how you monitor children's welfare.

Safer eating and weaning will be an inspection focus

New evidence-gathering prompts will be added to the toolkit and inspectors will be expected to check that providers are implementing the relevant statutory guidance as well as EYFS changes. There will be a specific welfare and wellbeing standard relating to:

• Weaning - which was added to the EYFS alongside safer eating in September 2025.
• Safer eating arrangements - see the safer eating changes guidance.

What this means for childminders:

• Ensure your mealtime and weaning practices reflect current nutrition statutory guidance.
• Be ready to explain to your inspector how you reduce risks such as choking, allergies etc.

The DfE blog links welfare and wellbeing directly to inspection evaluations. Inspectors will not just be asking, 'Are children safe in the setting?' but also 'How do we know children are thriving, secure, healthy and emotionally supported?' This links to the 'Children's welfare and wellbeing' inspection evaluation and might include discussions about, for example, children's emotional regulation, helping children feel secure and settled, healthy eating habits, physical activity and outdoor play and how well you support individual care needs.

Safer sleep

New evidence-gathering prompts will be added to the toolkit and inspectors will be expected to check that providers are implementing the EYFS changes. There will be a specific welfare and wellbeing standard relating to:

• Safe sleep - which will be added to the EYFS from September 2026.

What this means for childminders:

• Review your safe sleep procedures for babies - think about position, supervision and suitable spaces.
• Make any necessary changes and share what you are doing with parents.
• Be ready to talk to your inspector about how you understand, implement and monitor safer sleep for all children, but especially for babies and children under the age of 2 years.

The DfE blog underlines why Ofsted has added safer sleep as a special focus, linked to the planned EYFS updates around safer sleep expected from September 2026. You should review your safer sleep practices and ensure parents are updated with any changes you are making. You might need to make changes to where babies and children are sleeping - I suggest you keep a note ready to discuss during your next inspection. As a rule, do not make any decisions that differ from the new statutory requirements.

Focus on mathematics teaching

A new evidence-gathering prompt has been added to clarify the standard around teaching mathematics explicitly. Childcare.co.uk has already released a lot of guidance on this including a written information guide and a recorded webinar.

What this means for childminders:

• Be prepared to show how you help children develop early maths skills through everyday activities such as counting, sorting, measuring, comparing quantities and using mathematical language.
• Inspectors will want to see maths taught throughout the day - not special maths 'lessons'.
• Chat about maths on outings, maths in the garden, activities you plan to support maths etc.
• Talk to parents about supporting their child's maths at home in fun ways.
• Include number songs and rhymes in your daily music and movement planning.

Vocabulary means English vocabulary

The toolkit now clarifies that references to vocabulary are specifically about English vocabulary. The EYFS was updated in September 2021 - see requirements 1.8-1.9 - to state that if children are learning English as an additional language providers, 'May take reasonable steps to provide opportunities for children to develop and use their home language in play and learning, supporting their language development at home.' However, the focus must be on teaching children to use English.

What this means for childminders:

• Continue valuing home languages, but inspectors will specifically consider how children develop their English vocabulary.

Inclusion and SEND are strengthened

Additional references have been added regarding:

• Children with personal education plans.
• Children with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND).
• Children known to social care.
• Inspectors speaking with SENCo and other inclusion leaders where relevant.

What this means for childminders:

• In a childminding setting the childminder is the SENCO. You must know your procedures and be ready to talk about them to the inspector.
• Be able to explain how you quickly identify and put support in place without delay for children with additional needs. Note the inspection toolkit has expanded the SEND expectation to cover vulnerable children.
• Talk about how you work with parents and other agencies and professionals to support children when appropriate.

Childcare.co.uk has a useful blog - Inclusion - what you need to know.

The toolkit and EYFS are aligned

We have noted during webinar training that the evaluation standards in the Ofsted early years inspection toolkit are much closer than ever before to the EYFS. The grading standards have been updated to make it clear that providers must meet the inspection toolkit standards as well as the relevant EYFS requirements.

What this means for childminders:

• Audit the EYFS to ensure your practice is compliant with the EYFS; audit the inspection toolkit to ensure your practice is compliant with at least the 'expected standard' column.

Documentation

• Inspectors will prioritise checking DBS records.
• During inspection inspectors will discuss safer recruitment.
• Inspectors will ask to see paediatric first aid (PFA) certificates.

What this means for childminders:

• Be ready to show relevant checks for everyone over the age of 16 years living or working on the premises.
• We are aware from inspection feedback that some inspectors are asking to see evidence of statutory safeguarding training as well as PFA certificates.
• If you have staff / assistants, you must be able to demonstrate safer recruitment procedures.

The blog makes it clear that inspectors want to understand what life is actually like for children in the setting, rather than see large amounts of paperwork. However, the statutory paperwork - for example, attendance registers, safeguarding policy, safer recruitment procedures, accident and medication record keeping etc, must be in place.

Inspection process changes

Providers will be reminded during the inspection notification call that they can contact a senior Ofsted leader if they have concerns or need clarification during the inspection process.

What next?

If you are preparing for inspection, the biggest actions are:

• Review safeguarding policy and procedures - you must be knowledgeable and confident.
• Update safe sleep practices and share with parents.
• Ensure safer eating and weaning procedures are secure.
• Be ready to demonstrate how you explicitly teach early mathematics as part of your everyday activities. See the webinar Maths in everyday routines for more guidance.
• Be ready to talk about how you promote children's emotional wellbeing - it is part of executive function which must be 'explicitly taught' as part of your ongoing curriculum.
• Ensure your EYFS compliance is up to date.
• Have clear evidence of how you support inclusion, SEND and vulnerable children.
• If you have assistants / staff, check safer recruitment procedures including an appropriate reference is / are in place.