This handbook describes the main activities inspectors undertake when they conduct inspections of early years providers in England under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006.

The handbook also sets out the judgements inspectors will make and on which they will report.

The handbook has two parts:

Part 1. How early years providers will be inspected

This contains instructions and guidance for inspectors on preparing for and conducting early years registered inspections.

Part 2. The evaluation schedule

This contains guidance for inspectors on judging the quality and standards of early years settings and indicates the main types of evidence used.

This handbook is available to providers and other organisations to make sure that they are informed about inspection processes and procedures. It balances the need for consistent inspection with the flexibility needed to respond to each provider’s individual circumstances. It should not be regarded as inflexible, but simply as an account of normal procedures. This handbook applies from September 2015.

This is a downloadable file