Being inspected as a childminder

You must continue to meet the registration standards while you are working as a childminder Childminders and childcare providers: register with Ofsted - Registration requirements - Guidance - GOV.UK

You will need to:

  • pay the annual registration fee
  • keep your details up to date
  • report any major accidents or incidents

How and when you will be inspected by Ofsted depends on whether you are on the Childcare Register or the Early Years Register.

Ofsted will make sure you are meeting the requirements for:

  • safeguarding and welfare
  • learning and development

If you do not meet the requirements, you will be told hat you need to do to improve and when you need to improve by.

Childcare Register

You could be inspected at anytime if you are only on the Childcare Register. You will get a letter to tell you whether you've met the requirements. The inspection letter will be published online by Ofsted for one year Find an Ofsted inspection report.

Further information on how Ofsted inspectors carry out inspections of providers that are only registered on either or both parts of the Childcare Register, can be found at: Carrying out Childcare Register compliance inspections - GOV.UK

Early Years Register

Ofsted will usually inspect you within the first 30 months of registering as a childminder, and at least 6 years after that.

You may also be inspected if someone reports concerns about the childcare you are providing.

Getting notice of an inspection

Childminders or providers that do not operate regularly will get a call up to 5 days before an inspection to check what days they work. You will be told what time the inspection will start but not what day it will start.

You can be inspected without warning. This is normally if Ofsted are concerned about the childcare you provide.

Before the inspection

You must tell parents an inspection is going to take place.

During the inspection

The inspector will:

  • observe the children at play
  • talk to you and the children
  • observe how you and the children interact
  • check the children's level of understanding and if they take part in learning
  • talk to you about the children's knowledge, skills and abilities
  • observe care routines and how they are used to support children's personal development
  • evaluate your knowledge of the early years foundation stage EYFS statutory framework for childminders

Further information about the main activities inspectors undertake when they carry out their inspections can be found at: Early years inspection handbook - GOV.UK

After the inspection

You will be sent a report with your grade. You will be told how to do better, if there is anything that can be improved.

You will be graded as one of the following:

  • Grade 1 - outstanding
  • Grade 2 - good
  • Grade 3 - requires improvement
  • Grade 4 - inadequate

Your inspection report will be published by Ofsted within 10 working days of you being sent it. You must give a copy of the report to the parents of the children you look after and to anyone else who asks for one.

If you are graded 'requires improvement'

You will be inspected again within 12 months.[You will also receive support from Shropshire's Early Years' Team to help you get back to Good].

If you are graded 'inadequate'

You will be inspected again within 6 months.[You will also receive support from Shropshire's Early Years' Team to help you get back to Good].

You will be told what you must do to remain registered, and the date by which it must be done. Shropshire Council will also be told, which may affect your eligibility for funding.

In some cases, you will also get a monitoring visit before the inspection. This will happen if Ofsted has decided extra steps need to be taken ('enforcement action').

Complain about an inspection

You can make a complaint during or after an Ofsted inspection Complain about Ofsted - GOV.UK.