Ofsted inspection checklist for nurseries 2026

Ofsted can arrive with as little as half a day's notice. For most nursery owners, that call triggers a rush to find documents, chase staff records, and remember which policy was last updated. It doesn't have to be that way. This checklist covers everything an inspector will expect to see — and the things they check that owners often overlook.

What Ofsted is actually grading you on

Since 2019, Ofsted has judged nurseries against the Education Inspection Framework (EIF). Inspectors are looking at four areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The inspection is less about paperwork than it used to be — but your documentation still needs to be immediately accessible. If you can't find it, for inspection purposes it doesn't exist.

Documents — have these ready on the day

Every registered nursery must be able to produce the following without hesitation:

• Ofsted certificate of registration — displayed prominently, current
• Public liability insurance certificate — in date
• Employer's liability insurance certificate — in date
• Fire risk assessment — completed within the last 12 months, signed and dated
• Health and safety policy — reviewed within the last year
• Safeguarding and child protection policy — reviewed annually, all staff signed
• SEND policy
• Complaints policy and log — must show any complaints received and how they were resolved
• Accident and incident log — up to date, countersigned by parents
• Medicine administration records
• Risk assessments — for the premises, outdoor spaces, and any trips or activities

Staff records — what inspectors check

Every member of staff who works with children must have a valid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check at the appropriate level before starting work. Inspectors will check that your single central record is complete and up to date. This means:

• DBS certificate number, date issued, and level for every staff member
• Identity verification records
• Proof of qualifications for qualified staff — originals or certified copies
• References taken up before employment began
• Right to work in the UK documentation
• Paediatric first aid certificates — at least one qualified person must be present at all times when children are on site

The single central record is one of the most common reasons nurseries receive actions after inspection. Keep it in one place, review it monthly, and make sure every new starter is added before their first day.

Safeguarding — the inspector's first priority

Safeguarding is weighted heavily in every Ofsted inspection. Your designated safeguarding lead (DSL) must be trained to the appropriate level, and all staff must have completed safeguarding awareness training within the last two years. Inspectors will typically speak to your DSL directly and may ask staff members how they would respond to a concern. Expect questions like:

• What would you do if a child disclosed abuse to you?
• How do you record and report a safeguarding concern?
• Who is the designated safeguarding lead?

Make sure every member of staff can answer all three confidently before the inspection.

The EYFS requirements inspectors focus on

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the legal requirements for learning, development, and care. Inspectors will look at how you plan and deliver activities across the seven areas of learning, how you assess children's progress, and how you communicate development to parents. Key things to have in place:

• A two-year progress check process (for children aged 2–3)
• Clear evidence of how you track and respond to individual children's next steps
• Keyperson system — every child assigned, every keyperson clear on their role
• Documentation of how you support children with SEND

Before the inspection — a one-week preparation checklist

If you know an inspection is likely (or overdue), work through this list weekly:

• Check every compliance certificate expiry date — flag anything within 60 days
• Review the single central record — confirm every field is complete
• Read through your safeguarding policy — confirm it reflects current KCSIE guidance
• Walk the premises as an inspector would — note anything that could raise a question
• Brief your team — remind them of the safeguarding basics and who the DSL is
• Check accident and medicine logs are current and countersigned
• Confirm first aid certificates are all in date

The day Ofsted calls

When the call comes, you'll typically have until the following morning. Stay calm — a nursery that is well-run every day doesn't need to do anything different the night before. Your job is to make sure the inspector can see your normal, not a performance.

Pull together your document folder, brief your DSL, make sure your single central record is accessible, and get a good night's sleep. The nurseries that struggle in inspections are usually the ones who have let the admin drift. If yours is current, you're ready.