Updated for the 2025 Education Inspection Framework · EYFS Statutory Framework September 2025
When Ofsted inspects an early years or childcare setting, it assesses whether the provision is safe, well-led, and supporting children's care, learning, and development effectively.
From November 2025, inspections operate under Ofsted's renewed Education Inspection Framework. Instead of a single overall effectiveness grade, Ofsted uses a report card with separate evaluation areas across key aspects of provision.
For early years providers, the report card includes areas such as:
In early years, safeguarding is considered separately as met or not met.
This guide focuses on leadership and governance and safeguarding, as these are the areas where workforce documentation and oversight have the most direct operational impact.
The updated framework places stronger emphasis on continuous leadership oversight of safeguarding and workforce processes. Providers should be able to show that important checks and reviews are carried out and monitored throughout the year, not assembled only when inspection is due.
Important early years changes from the September 2025 EYFS framework include:
Providers should have clear safeguarding leadership and arrangements that meet the updated safeguarding and welfare requirements.
From 1 September 2025, the EYFS introduced Annex C, which sets binding safeguarding training criteria. Providers should make sure their training arrangements meet those criteria.
The EYFS framework strengthened expectations around obtaining written references before employment begins.
Providers must follow up unexplained or prolonged absences and maintain appropriate emergency contact information.
From September 2025, a paediatric first aid-trained member of staff must be present in the room whenever children are eating, including meal and snack times. A PFA-trained person elsewhere on the premises does not meet that requirement.
Inspectors may review whether the provider maintains clear, accessible records showing that appropriate safeguarding and recruitment checks have been completed for staff.
The EYFS does not prescribe one exact format, but many settings keep a central suitability record or SCR-style register to organise these checks clearly.
A staff suitability record will often include:
Providers should be able to show that agency and bank workers have been appropriately vetted.
In practice, this often includes keeping letters of assurance from the agency and recording agency workers within the setting's wider suitability records.
These issues matter because inspection is not only about whether checks happened, but whether leaders can show clear oversight of those checks.
These issues can make it harder to demonstrate leadership oversight during inspection.
Under the 2025 framework, inspectors consider whether leaders actively oversee safeguarding and workforce systems as part of day-to-day leadership and governance.
Inspectors are looking at whether safeguarding is embedded as a continuous leadership process, not treated as an occasional paperwork exercise.
Providers should be able to evidence things like:
Safeguarding is judged separately during inspection as met or not met.
Inspectors may consider evidence such as:
Staff working with children should have the appropriate enhanced DBS check, including a children's barred list check where required.
Providers should record the DBS certificate reference and date obtained in their records.
Where a staff member subscribes to the DBS Update Service, providers may carry out status checks. Good record keeping should include:
Providers should also ensure they are entitled to carry out the same level of check before using the Update Service.
Important: Staff must register themselves for the Update Service. Providers cannot register workers on their behalf.
Inspectors may review whether training records are current, organised, and monitored.
Training records often include:
Providers should be able to show both completion dates and renewal dates, especially for time-limited certificates. From September 2025, providers should also be able to show that PFA coverage is in place in the room during all meal and snack times.
This page provides general guidance on early years inspections and the EYFS statutory framework. Inspection expectations can evolve, and providers should always refer to the latest Ofsted and Department for Education guidance for current requirements.
EntryComply organises workforce documentation and governance records. EntryComply does not certify compliance, make suitability decisions, or guarantee inspection outcomes.
Save the full 2025 Ofsted inspection guide for reference — free to download.
If your workforce records feel scattered, inconsistent, or difficult to evidence, we can help you work out the most practical next step.
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This guidance is provided for general information purposes only. It does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Providers should refer to the current Ofsted inspection handbooks and statutory guidance for authoritative information.
Providers remain solely responsible for suitability assessments and regulatory compliance decisions.