- Government invests over £8 million to strengthen safeguarding
across early years
- 3,000 more unannounced Ofsted visits each year to spot risks
early
- Stronger checks before nurseries open with more face-to-face
interviews
Parents will have greater peace of mind as more surprise Ofsted
visits, stronger checks and faster action help keep children safe
in nurseries.
Over £8 million a year will give Ofsted the tools to
better identify and investigate settings
- including 3,000 additional unannounced visits
to identify risks early and act quickly. This will
give parents assurance that safeguarding across the system
is upheld to the
highest possible standards.
Tripling the number of unannounced Ofsted visits
compared with the year to April 2025 will mean that
issues needing urgent attention can be acted on
rapidly, ensuring children are kept safe.
Funding will pay for more face-to-face interviews
where appropriate before providers open, strengthening
checks so every setting meets safeguarding expectations from day
one.
The new funding will also include paying for rapid
upgrades to Ofsted computer systems already underway,
ensuring risk assessments are supported
by state-of-the-art technology. Inspectors will have
access to real-time updates to help them intervene more
quickly.
Together, these measures give Ofsted the tools to
strengthen safeguarding from the moment a provider applies
to operate, through every stage of inspection and oversight,
so that every child can get the very best start in
life.
Education Secretary said:
Nothing matters more than keeping children safe. Parents should
be able to trust that when they leave their child at
a nursery, they are in safe hands.
This investment means more surprise Ofsted visits, stronger
checks, and faster action where there are concerns so risks are
spotted early and dealt with quickly.
Early education gives children the best start in life, and we are
making sure it is backed by the high standards of care and
protection families expect.
They build on wider action to improve safeguarding across
early years settings, including stronger whistleblowing
protections so staff and parents can raise concerns safely
and confidently - and that every concern is treated seriously and
acted upon without delay.
An independent expert panel is also examining the use of digital
devices and CCTV in childcare settings, with ministers committed
to publishing its findings and considering all
recommendations.
The government is also working with Ofsted to review how nursery
chains are regulated, to better identify and address
risks across groups of providers.
These reforms sit alongside wider investment in early years,
including expanding childcare support for working families and
strengthening the workforce helping ensure every child gets a
safe, high-quality start.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Over £8 million will be provided at the start of
each financial year with the first full funding
allocation starting in FY 2027/28. The allocation for
FY2026/27 will be £4.8m given delivery is beginning in
September.
- This includes funding for:
- An additional 3000 unannounced assurance and
regulatory visits a year
- An increased number of inspectors for larger or more complex
settings
- A strengthened registration process with a sharper focus on
assessing applicant suitability
- The acceleration of changes to Ofsted's digital systems to
strengthen intelligence sharing and risk identification across
the sector.
