EnglandInspectionGood to know

Ofsted received more early years notifications and complaints

Its annual report for 2025 to 2026 also shows it suspended 300 early years providers and is moving to inspections at least every 4 years.

A practitioner reads her notes while a small group of children play at a table behind her. — Stock photo, for illustration

Hubba TrainingOfficial sources

Published 14 July 20262 min read

At a glance

increase in notifications risk-assessed by Ofsted

Ofsted risk-assessed around 14,800 early years notifications in 2025 to 2026, a 24% increase from last year.
Ofsted received around 11,100 complaints relating to 6,910 providers, an 18% increase on the previous year.
Ofsted suspended 300 providers during the year, 26% more than the year before.

Ofsted dealt with more early years notifications and complaints in England in 2025 to 2026, according to its annual report published on 14 July.

The report covers 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Ofsted carried out 10,100 inspections of early years settings during the year.

It risk-assessed around 14,800 notifications from around 9,440 providers, a 24% increase from last year. For 48% of these notifications, it brought forward an inspection or took regulatory action.

Ofsted received around 11,100 complaints relating to 6,910 providers, an 18% increase on the previous year.

It completed 970 inspections after hearing concerns, and 55% of these were carried out without notice.

Ofsted did not carry out any Early Years Register inspections in October 2025, while it launched its renewed inspection framework.

Suspensions and registrations

Ofsted suspended 300 providers during the year, 26% more than the year before. It cancelled 1,730 registrations, and 1,580 of these were because fees had not been paid.

It also opened 810 cases to investigate 790 early years settings as possible unregistered provision, 36% higher than last year.

Ofsted said many were deemed unregistered because the legal entity owning them had changed, which requires a new registration.

More frequent inspections

Ofsted said that since April 2026 it has moved to visiting settings at least every 4 years rather than every 6 years. Newly registered settings will be inspected within 18 months of registration.

“In the early years, we have been emphasising safeguarding. There have been some serious and tragic incidents in recent years, and we are determined to play our part in ensuring that settings are safe to entrust with the care of children.”

Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, in the report's foreword

For your setting

What this means for your setting

0 of 4 done

Ofsted reviews each notification and assesses the risk to children, so you may want to check your team knows which events must be notified.
If the legal entity that owns your setting is changing, Ofsted says a new registration is needed, so you may want to check this early.
Most cancelled registrations were for unpaid fees, so you may want to make sure your annual Ofsted fee is paid on time.
More than half of inspections after concerns were carried out without notice, so you may want to keep records up to date every day.

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Does this apply in Scotland? Ofsted inspects and regulates early years settings in England only.

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence.

At a glance

increase in notifications risk-assessed by Ofsted

Ofsted risk-assessed around 14,800 early years notifications in 2025 to 2026, a 24% increase from last year.
Ofsted received around 11,100 complaints relating to 6,910 providers, an 18% increase on the previous year.
Ofsted suspended 300 providers during the year, 26% more than the year before.