Guidance and regulation

How we regulate and intervene in independent schools, and details of when we take legal action against unregistered schools.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 21 August 2019

Ofsted guidance on inspecting non-association independent schools in England under the education inspection framework.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024

• Non-association independent schools inspection handbook

  This guidance came into force on 5 April 2024. Introduction 1. This…

• Summary of changes

  This sets out changes we have made to reflect our inspection practice. It…

Information on Ofsted inspections for independent schools that are not members of associations.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 19 February 2024

This document provides guidance to help Ofsted inspectors in carrying out additional inspections of independent schools.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024

Guidance for Ofsted inspectors on talking to pupils during school inspections.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 28 September 2023

Guidance for inspectors and investigators of unregistered independent schools.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 1 September 2022

Guidance on producing an action plan to meet independent school standards.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 25 April 2023

Find out how to pay an Ofsted invoice in relation to your independent school.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 7 July 2020

Guidance for Ofsted inspectors when they find separation by sex on an inspection.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 31 August 2023

Advice note for an independent schools emergency inspection - welfare only.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 31 January 2013

This is a letter sent to parents and carers about independent school inspections at the time of inspection.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 29 May 2018

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

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 23 May 2023