Guide · Ofsted & inspection · 1 min read
What evidence should you have ready for an Ofsted inspection?
Less than you think. Ofsted says it doesn't want documents made specially for inspection, and doesn't need them in any particular format, as long as they're easy to get to. Inspectors need the records you're required to keep anyway, and to see that everyday practice matches them.
Stop building the folder
Inspectors gather most of their evidence first-hand: talking to leaders and staff, and watching the day-to-day work of the setting. The documents they ask to see are limited to your statutory requirements and the records you produce as part of normal business.
So the real question isn't "what should I print?". It's "can I find it quickly, and does it reflect what actually happens?"
What inspectors look at
The toolkit groups inspection into seven evaluation areas:
- Safeguarding
- Inclusion
- Curriculum and teaching
- Achievement
- Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines
- Children's welfare and wellbeing
- Leadership and governance
Safeguarding is judged as met or not met. The other six are graded: urgent improvement, needs attention, expected standard, strong standard or exceptional.
Records worth having to hand
[Area-by-area list of the records the EYFS statutory framework 2026 requires, each cited to its paragraph and signed off before publishing.]
Free: inspection records checklist
One page, grouped by evaluation area.
Announced or unannounced
You may get a day's notice, or none at all. Either way, the setting that copes best is the one whose records are kept as part of the working day, not pulled together the night before.
Source: Ofsted, Early years inspection toolkit, for use on inspections from 1 September 2026. This guide summarises; it isn't a substitute for the toolkit.
Maggie Bolger · 6 min · October 2026