What Is Ofsted?
If you’ve ever looked for a nursery, school, or childcare provider in England, you’ve probably come across the word Ofsted. But what does it actually mean, and why does it matter to parents?
Ofsted stands for the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. It’s a government body that inspects and regulates nurseries, schools, colleges, and other childcare providers.
Its job is simple but vital: to make sure children and young people receive the best possible education and care.
Why Does Ofsted Matter to Parents?
For parents, Ofsted reports are one of the most reliable ways to judge whether a nursery or school is providing a safe, supportive, and high-quality learning environment.
When Ofsted inspects a setting, it looks at key areas such as:
- Quality of education – how well children are taught and supported in their learning.
- Behaviour and attitudes – whether children feel safe, respected, and happy.
- Personal development – how a setting supports social, emotional, and physical growth.
- Leadership and management – the effectiveness of nursery or school leadership, including staff training and safeguarding.
Understanding Ofsted Ratings
Every inspection ends with a judgement, which parents can see in a public report. These ratings give a quick summary of overall quality.
Until recently, the scale was:
- Outstanding – Exceptional quality of care and education.
- Good – Strong provision that meets Ofsted’s high standards.
- Requires Improvement – Acceptable, but needs to get better.
- Inadequate – Serious concerns about quality and safeguarding.
What’s Changing from November 2025
From November 2025, Ofsted will introduce an updated five-point evaluation scale for inspections. This new system aims to provide a clearer, fairer, and more detailed picture of quality across different areas of provision.
Importantly, Ofsted will no longer provide an overall effectiveness grade for any provider inspected under the new framework. Instead, each evaluation area will receive its own grade, helping parents better understand a setting’s strengths and priorities.
Safeguarding will be evaluated separately on a simple ‘met’ / ‘not met’ scale.
The New 5-Point Evaluation Scale
- Exceptional (highest quality provision):
An evaluation area can be graded ‘Exceptional’ when all the strong standards have been met and it meets all the additional standards in the ‘Exceptional’ section of the toolkit. - Strong Standard:
Awarded when all the expected standards and all the strong standards have been met. - Expected Standard:
Given when all the standards are met — including legal requirements, statutory guidance, and professional standards relevant to the setting. - Needs Attention:
Used when the ‘Expected Standard’ has not been met because some aspects of provision are inconsistent, limited in scope or impact, or not fully meeting legal requirements. - Urgent Improvement (lowest quality provision):
Given when urgent action is needed to provide a suitable standard of education and/or care for children and learners.
Additional Changes in 2025
- Shorter, clearer report cards will replace long reports, helping parents quickly see a setting’s strengths and areas for improvement.
- A stronger focus on inclusion, ensuring inspectors evaluate how settings support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those known to social care.
- More frequent inspections for nurseries – increasing from every six years to every four, to help maintain consistent quality.
How Parents Can Use Ofsted Reports
An Ofsted rating gives a helpful overview, but the full report contains the detail parents need to make an informed choice. Here’s how to read one effectively:
- Look at the highlights – What does the nursery or school do particularly well?
- Check areas for improvement – Even “Good” and “Outstanding” settings may have action points.
- Safeguarding is key – Ensure inspectors are confident children are kept safe.
- Think about your child – A report shows quality overall, but consider whether the nursery’s strengths match your child’s needs.
Ofsted and Your Child’s Future
Ofsted inspections aren’t about ticking boxes; they’re about making sure children get the very best start. For parents, they offer peace of mind that someone independent has checked a provider thoroughly.
By taking time to read Ofsted reports and understand the ratings, you can feel more confident when choosing the right setting for your child.
👉 Want to explore further? You can find inspection reports for nurseries and schools across England directly on the Ofsted website.