· Ofsted · 2 min read
Ofsted inspection checklist for childminders
The paperwork to have ready, the questions to expect and how to approach the day, for childminders in England.
Inspections of childminders usually come with little or no notice, so the best preparation is paperwork that is always ready. Here is a checklist to work through.
Paperwork to have to hand
- Your Ofsted registration certificate, shown to parents
- Public liability insurance, in date
- Paediatric first aid certificate, in date
- Safeguarding training certificates
- Enhanced DBS checks for everyone 16 or over who lives or works in your home
- Your policies, updated for the September 2026 framework
- Registers with real arrival and departure times
- Registration forms and emergency contacts for every child
- Accident, existing injury and medication records
- Sleep check logs and allergy records
- Risk assessments, including pets and outings
Be ready to talk about
- What you want children to learn, and why
- How you know each child is making progress
- How you support a child with extra needs
- What you would do about a safeguarding concern, step by step, and who your local contacts are
- How you work with parents
- How you keep children safe when eating and sleeping
On the day
Carry on with your normal routine and let the inspector see you with the children. Be honest about anything you are still working on.
Ofsted uses a revised early years inspection toolkit from September 2026, so read the latest version on GOV.UK before your inspection.
The Full Bundle of the Childminder Paperwork Kit includes a printable inspection checklist with space for your key facts.
