OFSTED regulations for the Early Years

Ofsted are the regulating body for Early Years and Childcare. The documents they produce are available on their website. Some of the most useful ones are linked below:

Ofsted documents

• Childminders and childcare providers: register with Ofsted
• Early Years Inspection Handbook
• Education Inspection Framework (EIF)
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks: childcare providers
• The next steps: when a provider is judged inadequate or is not complying with requirements

Advice on the Food Information Regulations

The EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation came into force in December 2014.

A guidance booklet allergen information for loose foods has been provided by the Food Standards Agency. They have produced a useful ‘dishes and their allergen content’ template.

• allergen information for pre-packed and loose foods

• dishes and their allergen content

Prevent Duty and British Values

From 1 July 2015 all schools and registered early years and childcare providers became subject to section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 – also known as the ‘Prevent Duty’. This means that they must have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.

Page last reviewed: 18 June 2021