Stepping Stones

Early Years Register

Providers on the Early Years Register will normally be inspected at least once within a 6-year window.

We will prioritise the first inspection of newly registered providers on the Early Years register. This will normally be within 30 months of their registration date.

Good or outstanding - We will inspect them at least once within a 6-year window from their last inspection.

Requires improvement - We usually re-inspect all childminders, pre-school provision and nursery provision within 12 months of the latest inspection.

Inadequate - We re-inspect all provision within six months of the latest inspection.

Notice

Group provision will normally receive a telephone call at around midday on the working day before the start of the inspection.

Group providers that do not operate regularly, will usually receive a call no more than five days before the inspection.

We can also inspect without notice.

Childcare Register

Each year, we inspect 1 in 10 of those who are only on the Childcare Register.

We do not inspect any provider on the Childcare Register until it has been registered for at least 3 months unless we receive information about possible non-compliance.

We will usually only inspect a provider on the Childcare Register once in any 12-month period unless we receive concerns.

Notice

For inspections of providers of childcare on domestic premises that operate regularly, we will carry out an unannounced inspection.

For all other inspections (childminders, nannies and childcare on non-domestic premises and childcare on domestic premises that does not operate regularly), we give no more than five days’ notice.

We can also inspect without notice.