The Early Years Inspection Toolkit (For Use from September 2026) is the updated Ofsted document published on 12 June 2026. This is the main document inspectors will use when evaluating early years settings from September 2026 onwards.
The toolkit sets out the areas that inspectors will evaluate and grade during inspection and provides valuable guidance to help providers understand what high-quality practice looks like. It covers key areas including:
• Safeguarding and protecting children from harm
• Inclusion, SEND and support for vulnerable children
• Curriculum and teaching
• Achievement and children’s progress
• Behaviour, routines and attitudes
• Children’s welfare, well-being and development
• Leadership and governance
• Equality, reasonable adjustments and meeting statutory requirements
This is an invaluable document for childminders, nurseries, pre-schools and other early years providers. It can be used to support inspection preparation, self-evaluation, staff training and continuous improvement.
This version has been professionally printed, bound and protected, giving you a durable, easy-to-use reference copy that can be highlighted, annotated and referred back to whenever you need it.
Please note: The official September 2026 toolkit published by Ofsted currently contains a watermark stating “For use from 1 September 2026” throughout the document. This watermark forms part of the original publication and will therefore also appear in this printed version.