Ofsted are the regulatory body make sure that the statutory requirements set out by the Department for Education for childcare and education services are upheld. The goal is to achieve excellence in education and skills for learners of all ages, and in the care of children and young people.

Details on registration requirements for childminders and settings is provided by Ofsted. It includes publications, guidance and advice. The early years inspection handbook is a guide to inspecting early years providers.

We also offer bespoke tools including:

• ready for your inspection visits
• premise visits for new childcare provisions, or to review your practice
• dedicated toolkits on inclusion and business
• safeguarding audit tool

It's a statutory requirement to notify Ofsted of any significant changes to your setting.

You can find out more about the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), how to register as a childcare provider, and a guide for special educational needs and disability (SEND) in early years settings, by visiting the GOV.UK website.

The Ofsted inspections of early years and childcare providers page includes information about how Ofsted inspects providers on both the early years and childcare registers. It includes the following useful documents:

• Inspecting registered early years providers
• Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills
• Inspection of services on the childcare register

You may also find the following Ofsted documents useful to support you in the delivery of Quality First Teaching (QFT):

• Are you ready? Good practice in school readiness
• Unknown children - destined for disadvantage?
• Teaching and play in the early years - a balancing act?
• Bold beginnings - the reception curriculum in a sample of good and outstanding primary schools