EnglandInspectionComing soon

Ofsted updates early years inspection guidance ahead of September

The changes cover notification calls, term-time-only settings and vetting records for volunteers, just before the updated guidance comes into use on 1 September.

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Hubba TrainingOfficial sources

Published 28 August 20262 min read

At a glance

date the updated guidance comes into use

Ofsted has updated its early years inspection guidance, days before new versions come into use on 1 September 2026.
Ofsted clarified when the notification call can take place and removed 'no children on roll' wording for term-time-only settings.
Inspectors must be able to access information on Disclosure and Barring Service records for volunteers in regulated activity.

Ofsted has updated its early years inspection guidance in England, days before new versions come into use on 1 September 2026.

The changes were published on 28 August. They affect the operating guide for inspectors and the early years inspection information page.

What changed in August

According to Ofsted's summary of changes, it has:

clarified when the notification call can take place
removed the 'no children on roll' wording from the section on term-time-only settings
clarified that inspectors must be able to access information related to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) records for volunteers engaging in regulated activity

Under the operating guide, inspectors usually phone a setting by 10am. For group provision, they call on the working day before the inspection.

For childminders, and group settings that do not run regularly such as summer play schemes, inspectors must call no more than 5 working days before the inspection.

For term-time-only settings, inspectors should not plan to inspect in the first week of any term. The exception is if they have concerns that the setting is not meeting the early years foundation stage (EYFS) requirements.

Settings must give inspectors access, online or in print, to DBS records for all staff. Ofsted says this includes volunteers who engage in regulated activity with children.

Inspectors do not need to see DBS checks for childminders, their assistants or household members, because these are seen as part of registration.

A reminder of the September changes

The new versions were first published in June. From 1 September, the guidance says inspectors will:

check that settings are implementing statutory guidance on babies' safe sleeping arrangements, weaning and safer eating
speak to the person acting as special educational needs coordinator (SENCo)
review DBS records as a priority and discuss arrangements for recruitment and paediatric first aid
align their use of mobile phones with the setting's mobile phone use policy

For your setting

What this means for your setting

0 of 4 done

Make sure inspectors can access DBS records, online or in print, for all staff, including volunteers who engage in regulated activity with children.
If you run a term-time-only setting, inspectors should not plan to visit in the first week of term unless they have concerns.
If you are a childminder or run a group that does not open regularly, the inspector may call up to 5 working days before the inspection.
You may want to read Ofsted's summary of changes and check your safe sleeping, weaning and safer eating arrangements before 1 September.

Tick things off as you go. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.

Does this apply in Scotland? Ofsted inspects 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

date the updated guidance comes into use

Ofsted has updated its early years inspection guidance, days before new versions come into use on 1 September 2026.
Ofsted clarified when the notification call can take place and removed 'no children on roll' wording for term-time-only settings.
Inspectors must be able to access information on Disclosure and Barring Service records for volunteers in regulated activity.