Getting Ofsted-ready: a calm checklist for childminders

The call from Ofsted rarely comes at a convenient moment. But the childminders who feel most settled when it arrives aren't necessarily the ones with the most impressive resources or the tidiest paperwork — they're the ones who know where everything is and can talk confidently about what they do and why.

That confidence comes from being genuinely prepared, not from a last-minute scramble. Here's a calm, practical checklist to help you get there.

Your registration and insurance

Start with the basics. Your certificate of registration should be displayed where parents can see it. Your public liability insurance should be current and accessible. These are two of the first things an inspector may ask to see, and they should be easy to locate — not buried in a drawer somewhere.

If your registration details have changed (a change of address, additional premises you use), make sure you've notified Ofsted. Inspectors check.

Policies and procedures

You need written policies covering the key safeguarding and welfare requirements. These typically include:

• Safeguarding and child protection
• Behaviour management
• Confidentiality
• Health and safety (including risk assessments)
• Equal opportunities and inclusion
• Food and nutrition (if you provide meals)
• Mobile phone and camera use
• Social media

Inspectors don't just want to see that these policies exist — they may ask you to explain your approach in your own words. If a policy was written years ago and you haven't looked at it since, take time to read it again. It should reflect how you actually work.

Children's records and observations

Your records for each minded child should include their registration form, emergency contacts, any medical needs or allergies, permissions (photography, outings, emergency medical treatment), and any special educational needs or additional support requirements.

Observation notes and learning journals don't need to be elaborate to be effective. Inspectors are looking for evidence that you know the children in your care well — their interests, their progress, where they are in their development. Brief, regular notes with photos are often more useful than infrequent detailed reports.

Your EYFS planning

You'll need to show how you plan for children's learning and development across the seven areas of the EYFS. This doesn't need to be a formal written plan for every day — but you should be able to talk about how you tailor activities to the children you have, and what you're currently working on with each child.

If you work with a childminder network or local support group, you may have access to planning templates that help structure this. Whatever format you use, make sure it reflects the actual children in your care.

Risk assessments

Risk assessments should cover your home environment (indoors and outdoors), any outings you regularly take, and any specific activities. They should be reviewed periodically and updated if circumstances change. An inspector may ask when you last reviewed them.

Attendance and incident records

Your attendance register should be up to date and accurate. Any accidents or incidents — however minor — should be recorded, with parent signatures where appropriate. Keep these records together and easy to access.

The conversation you'll have

The inspection isn't only about paperwork. Inspectors want to understand how you support children's welfare and development in practice. Think about how you'd answer:

• How do you know each child is making progress?
• How do you support children who need a bit of extra help?
• What would you do if a child disclosed something concerning?

These conversations go well when you're talking about what you genuinely do — not reciting a script. The paperwork is there to support that, not replace it.

You've built a childminding practice around caring for children well. An Ofsted inspection is an opportunity to show that.

Ofsted-ready EYFS resources and Polly, your AI assistant — from £9.99/mo.