A useful blog from Ofsted on Registering and inspecting school-based early years provision: what the updated guidance means for you - published in September 2025.
Ofsted's updated guidance is for maintained schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, non-maintained special schools and independent schools that provide early years and childcare. It is also for those considering applying to be part of the government’s £370 million school-based nurseries (SBN) expansion programme.
Ofsted's updates:
- explain when you must register your school’s early years or childcare provision with Ofsted
- clarify what the exemption criterion for provision ‘made at the school’ means
- include examples of when you must register school-based early years or childcare provision and how Ofsted will inspect it.