Guidance

Regulating and inspecting association independent schools with an early years registration

Updated 7 November 2025

Applies to England

Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) work together to inspect association independent schools with an early years registration.

Registering with Ofsted: early years provision in independent schools

Early years provision at an independent school must be registered with Ofsted if it includes care for children under 2 years old, or if it does not meet the criteria for exemption from registration, you will need to apply to register on the Early Years register.

Ofsted has a duty to inspect registered independent educational institutions under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. However, because the Department for Education is the regulator of independent schools, the Secretary of State can arrange for an approved independent inspectorate to inspect instead. ISI is approved to inspect registered childcare provision that is run by an association independent school. If you are an independent school that is part of an association, you will be inspected by ISI.

More information on registering and inspecting school-based provision can be found in the Registering and inspecting school-based childcare provision guidance.

Inspecting registered early years settings in independent schools

Following registration on the Early Years Register, we will initially be both the inspectorate and regulator of the registered early years setting and will carry out an inspection within 30 months.

A  decision is then made about whether ISI or Ofsted will carry out subsequent inspections of the registered early years setting.  

As part of this Ofsted considers the inspection outcome. Where safeguarding is met and all evaluation areas are graded ‘expected standard’ or above, ISI will normally carry out the subsequent early years inspection.

We work closely with ISI, sharing information about inspection and regulatory activity.

When completing an inspection, ISI inspectors use Ofsted’s education inspection framework to reach judgements and report on the registered early years provision.

There will be occasions when we will work together, particularly when inspection of a registered provision and the rest of the school are due or required at the same time.

Following an ISI inspection

Following an inspection, ISI will share the full school report with us.

ISI will publish on its website 2 separate reports, one for the school and one for the registered early years setting.

We will publish the post-registration inspection report for registered early years providers on our website. We will also publish any other details relating to registration, including information where we or the provider have taken action as a result of a concern, complaint or breach.

Our regulatory role

As the regulator of registered early years provision, we are responsible for checking that any care and education meets the requirements for registration and the early years foundation stage.

Our approach to what happens when we receive information about a provider that suggests that they are in breach of relevant requirements is set out in our early years and childcare enforcement policy. If we have concerns, we may carry out:

• a regulatory visit

• a regulatory telephone call

• a full inspection