The Changing Landscape of Inspection
Change is coming to the Early Years sector once again — but this time, it’s more than a tweak to terminology or a refresh of guidance. From November 2025, a completely new Education Inspection Framework will come into effect, reshaping how Ofsted views quality, leadership, and impact across all early years settings.
This transformation follows Ofsted’s Big Listen, a large-scale consultation that sought honest feedback from educators, providers, and families. The result? A renewed commitment to inspection that feels fairer, more balanced, and more focused on professional respect and consistency.
For many, this shift feels like a long-awaited step in the right direction — an opportunity to align inspection practice with the sector’s everyday reality.
From Grades to Growth: What's Changing
The headline reform is the introduction of report cards — replacing the single overall judgement with a five-point grading scale:
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Inspection frequency will increase too — most nurseries and pre-schools will now be inspected every four years instead of six. The goal is to maintain ongoing dialogue and support continuous quality development rather than waiting years for feedback.
The New Toolkit: What Inspectors Will Look For
Ofsted’s new Early Years Inspection Toolkit and Operating Guide introduce seven key evaluation areas:
- Safeguarding (‘Met’ or ‘Not Met’)
- Inclusion
- Curriculum & Teaching
- Achievement
- Behaviour & Attitudes
- Children’s Welfare & Wellbeing
- Leadership & Governance
Inspectors will hold a planning call before arriving and expect leaders to discuss priorities and self-evaluation clearly — a professional conversation, not an interrogation.
Self-Evaluation Re-imagined
If there’s one phrase that sums up the new inspection culture, it’s “show me the impact.”
Inspectors want to see how reflection leads to improvement — not just what’s written in plans. Leaders should demonstrate how their actions have changed outcomes, not only what they intend to do next. Continuous, visible self-evaluation is now central to demonstrating strong or exceptional leadership.
Inspection with Humanity
One of the most welcome outcomes of the Big Listen is Ofsted’s renewed focus on culture — ensuring inspections are carried out with empathy, courtesy, and professionalism.
This includes explicit commitments to:
- respectful communication;
- sensitivity to staff workload;
- constructive feedback that promotes professional growth.
Inspections should feel like a dialogue that builds confidence, not fear.
Leadership in Focus
Leadership remains central. Inspectors will look for evidence of:
- strong organisation and well-maintained documentation;
- professional development that strengthens staff knowledge and wellbeing;
- sustained improvement that’s visible over time.
Be ready to explain how your setting would move from Expected to Strong or Exceptional — inspectors will ask for concrete examples of sustained impact, not just plans.
Everyday Excellence in Action
At MBK Early Years, we believe quality improvement isn’t about inspection day — it’s about what happens every day.
Our philosophy, “Nurturing Excellence Every Day,” aligns perfectly with Ofsted’s focus on reflection and improvement. Tools like the Everyday Success Diary help leaders and managers record daily reflections, coaching moments, and actions — turning practice into meaningful evidence of excellence.
Being prepared for Ofsted isn’t about creating more paperwork; it’s about capturing what you already do so well.
Five Steps to Get Ahead
- Start with reflection, not reaction — make your self-evaluation live and meaningful.
- Align your evidence — organise it around the new seven evaluation areas.
- Empower your team — help everyone understand what Strong and Exceptional look like.
- Keep communication open — make reflection part of daily conversation.
- Embed wellbeing and inclusion — care for your team and your community.
Looking Forward
The 2025 framework gives our sector a chance to reset the inspection narrative — from anxiety to empowerment, from paperwork to purpose.
By embracing reflection and continuous improvement, we can all be inspection-ready every day — not just for inspection day.
That’s what excellence looks like — and it’s what early years professionals deliver every single day.
About MBK Early Years
MBK Early Years supports nurseries and early years providers across the UK with leadership development, inspection readiness, and quality improvement.
For practical insights, training programmes, and tools that help you nurture excellence every day, visit www.mbkgroup.co.uk or follow us on social media.
