FAQs

This is currently being reviewed by policy at Ofsted.  All inspectors will be retrained to understand the changes.

Because of the changes to Tier 3, Ofsted are looking at this.

Settings who have not yet had an inspection will be scheduled to have an inspection during the next period. Ofsted’s aim would be to think of those who have not yet had an inspection.  They have a range of priorities and these settings fit into these priorities.

If you have a confirmed cases of coronavirus in your setting (staff member or a child), or you’ve been advised to close as a result, you should tell Ofsted as soon as is reasonably practical, and in any case within 14 days.

Please have a look at the guidance on reporting incidents to ensure you include all of the information required: https://www.gov.uk/…/report-a-serious-childcare-incident

You can report online via the link above.

We know that sometimes meeting another childminder and their mindees can be beneficial for everyone. During this period, childminders can continue taking all children they care for outdoors. Under the exemptions to restrictions on leaving home, a childminder from one household can meet another childminder from a different household outdoors with any children under the age of 5 in their care. As children over the age of 5 are counted in the limit on two people meeting outside, you cannot meet another childminder if they are accompanied by children over the age of 5.

During this period, community centres and halls may stay open for childcare purposes and supervised activities for children, and again, under 5s aren’t counted in overall numbers. More information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#where-and-when-you-can-meet-in-larger-groups

Ofsted will be moving to a window where everyone will be inspected within a 6 year window.

When full routine inspections resume, Ofsted will be introducing a new approach to inspecting early years providers.

Under the new arrangements, all early years providers will be inspected in a 6-year window from the date of their last inspection. This means Ofsted can be more proportionate and prioritise the re-inspection of the relatively small proportion of nurseries, pre-schools and childminders that are not yet good. Where possible, childcare providers judged to require improvement will continue to be inspected within a year and inadequate childcare provision will be inspected within 6 months.

Read more about the changes here: http://ow.ly/r68C50CiBHY

Following the recent government announcement, our programme of autumn visits will take place remotely, where possible, from Thursday 5 November. We will only go on site if it is necessary to do so, or in response to significant safeguarding concerns.

Childcare register inspections and pre-registration visits will continue following a risk assessment and confirmation that the inspection / visit can be delivered remotely, or when we have assessed that it is safe and necessary to visit in person.

More information can be found on our coronavirus (COVID-19) rolling update:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ofsted-coronavirus-covid-19-rolling-updatehttp://ow.ly/4F8C50CaciT

The form which can be accessed here https://www.gov.uk/…/report-a-serious-childcare-incident is for the use of providers registered with Ofsted to provide early years and later years childcare. As an Ofsted registered provider you are required to notify Ofsted of any significant events or changes occurring at or affecting your provision.

Further details about what you need to notify Ofsted about can be found in the EYFS.