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This page explains Ofsted report cards for your child's education or childcare, including a video and guidance on what's changed from the old system.
Tell Ofsted about a serious incident in a children’s home or secure children’s home.
Guidance for inspectors and schools on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under the renewed education inspection framework.
For use on inspections from 10 November 2025. About this page This…
For use on inspections from 10 November 2025. About this page This page…
For use on inspections from 10 November 2025. About this guide This guide…
For use on inspections from 7 September 2026. About this page This…
For use on inspections from 7 September 2026. About this page This page…
For use on inspections from 7 September 2026. About this guide This guide…
This document sets out changes we have made to inspection guidance to…
Guidance for inspectors and providers on inspecting registered early years settings in England under the renewed education inspection framework.
You might need to create a new Government Gateway account if you have forgotten both your user ID and password.
If you are associated with a registered children's social care service, you might need to apply to Ofsted and provide certain information.
Find out what information you will need to create and use a Government Gateway account so that you can use Ofsted's services.
This framework sets out Ofsted's inspection principles and the grades that inspectors give.
Guidance for inspectors and providers on inspecting further education and skills providers in England under the renewed education inspection framework.
Ofsted-registered childminders, nannies, nurseries and other daycare must use this service to report significant events affecting their childcare as soon as possible but always within 14 days.
Apply to register a children’s home, adoption or fostering agency, residential family centre, residential holiday scheme or supported accommodation service.
How to get a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if you want to look after children for a living: who needs a check, what it costs and how long it takes.
How to register with Ofsted and apply to open, manage, or be associated with a children's home.
You must apply to Ofsted if you want to take up a governance position in a daycare organisation, or if you start living or working in a home where daycare takes place.
Health declaration forms for childminders and people who work in childcare or children's social care.
Guidance on how Ofsted inspects children's homes.
Guide for local authorities and providers on when Ofsted will prioritise an application to register a children’s home.
If you are a childminder, you must tell Ofsted within 14 days about new people aged 16 or over who live or work in the home where you look after children. This includes children who turn 16. If you are a childminder without …
Guidance for childcare providers on when you must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency, when you cannot register, and when you do not have to.
Guidance for childminders, nannies, nurseries and people providing other childcare on when/if you need to register with Ofsted, the process, fees and requirements.
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