10 questions to prepare for nursery inspections
Reflect on your nursery’s practices with our 10 questions to help you prepare for nursery inspections.
The notification call for an inspection should not be a cause for panic. Prepare for nursery inspection and you’ll know what you need to do, helping the inspection to go smoothly and giving you the best chance of getting the judgement you deserve.
Here are ten questions questions to prepare for nursery inspections:
- Are you aware of the expectations for your first conversation with the inspector during the notification call? Find out in the Inspection handbook
- Do you have an inspection action plan in place so you know who will be responsible for what during an inspection? Check in the handbook for the types of activities an inspector will carry out
- Do you know what documentation you will need and where is it kept? The inspection handbook has a list of documentation required. Make sure you share with your team where everything required is kept
- How do you prepare for your inspection as a team? For example, do you explore scenarios with your staff, such as asking them, “What would you do if an inspector asked you about how the nursery implements British values?”
- How often do you complete peer observations? How confident are your staff when being observed?
- Do you know which member of staff will be part of the joint observation with the inspector? Do they know what the role involves?
- How often do you review and evaluate teaching practice? How confident are you that there is a consistent approach to teaching?
- What documents will you use to demonstrate your methods for evaluating the quality of your practice?
- What data do you collect, if any, and how do you use it to inform your planning? What impact does it have on children’s outcomes?
- How do you demonstrate the progress that children have made in your setting?
Answering these questions and planning in advance will help you to be as prepared as possible for an inspection.
Looking for more support?
See our ‘Developing confidence with your Ofsted inspection‘ live virtual course, our Evaluative practice and impact measurement‘ online course or ‘Review of quality practice‘ service for more support.
- England
- Inspections
- Leadership
