Ofsted Inspections
Childminder Guides > Inspections > Ofsted Inspections
Preparing for your Ofsted inspection
You must comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage
EYFS Audit 
- to help check with your compliance
If you are registered to care for older children, you must comply with the Childcare Register:
Ofsted Inspection Toolkit
Read our 30+ page Ofsted Inspection Toolkit presentation
The 5 evaluations award after an Ofsted Inspection
There are 5 evaluations made at the end of an Ofsted inspection:
• Urgent improvement
• Needs attention
• Expected standard
• Strong standard.
• Exceptional
Ofsted state that they will make a secure fit judgment and you must meet all the standards in the appropriate column.
The 7 inspection evaluation areas
There are 7 inspection evaluation areas:
• Safeguarding – a ‘met’ or ‘not met’ outcome.
• Inclusion – a focus area.
• Curriculum and teaching.
• Achievement.
• Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines.
• Children’s welfare and wellbeing.
• Leadership and governance.
You will find more information in the Ofsted inspection toolkit, operating guide and information document.
How can you plan in advance for your Ofsted inspection?
There is no requirement to record any information ‘for Osted’ but you might find it useful to prepare for the Ofsted inspection phone calls and think through the Ofsted inspection areas before you get ‘the call’.
This guide will support you with pre-inspection planning, including reflecting on how to handle Ofsted’s video call, so it’s a calm and well organised conversation with answers at your fingertips.
Planning For Your Ofsted Inspection
Guides to help you prepare for your Ofsted inspection
Ofsted Inspection From November 2025
Ofsted Pre-inspection Checklist
Top 10 tips for a successful Ofsted inspection
No Children on roll during Ofsted Inspection
More Inspection Guides
Unannounced Ofsted Inspections
Dealing with Inspection Outcomes
Journey To a Positive Inspection Outcome
Ofsted Inspection And Teaching
You have been Suspended by Ofsted - What happens next?
Quick overview guides in preparation for your Ofsted Inspection
Curriculum And Teaching During Inspection
Keeping Updated For Inspection
Setting Up Activities For Inspection
Staff Files And Ofsted Inspection
Staff Preparation For Inspection
Ofsted Expected Standard Audit
The ‘expected standard’ is the minimum expectation you must be able to demonstrate during Ofsted inspection. Ofsted say that providers might want to use their early years inspection toolkit as a starting point for professional development.
You do not need a written evaluation or action plan for Ofsted – you do not need to use this guide to write your own document for inspection – it is guidance to help you plan your professional development.
Read the Ofsted 'expected standard' Audit
Ofsted Strong Standard Audit
Read the Ofsted 'strong standard' Audit
Childcare.co.uk Inspection Webinars
The following webinars will help support your practice:
Are you ready for Ofsted inspection from November 2025?
Are you ready for inclusion from November 2025?
Are you ready for leadership from November 2025?
Safeguarding / child protection
Safeguarding policy (statutory)
Where possible you should use your Local Authority safeguarding model policy. However, this is not always possible, so Childcare.co.uk provides you with a comprehensive safeguarding policy which you can adapt for your setting and ways of working.
Safeguarding guidance
Safeguarding quick reference cards
Safeguarding Q&A to help you revise your knowledge and check staff understanding
Safeguarding glossary of terms
Documents linked to safeguarding
You must also have a working knowledge of:
• Working together to safeguard children
• What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused
• The Prevent duty guidance
• Information sharing guidance
• Data protection legislation
You will find a list of links for useful safeguarding documents in our Childminder Guides and Childminder Paperwork sections.
Complaints
Complaints policy (statutory for the Childcare Register) 
Complaints form - to allow you to record complaints
Cultural Capital
Record keeping forms
The following recording keeping forms are required by the EYFS:
Accident, injury and first aid form (statutory)
Medication administration form (statutory)
Incident record form including physical restraint (statutory)
Permission forms (statutory)
Contracts
Note contracts are usually a requirement of your insurance:
Childminder contract for each child in your setting
Contract addendum – to keep existing contracts updated
Paperwork
Statutory paperwork to share with new parents
Professional development opportunities
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