Nursery inspections - child with clipboard

Published May 7, 2025 Written by Rebecca Smith

Nursery inspections: Developing outstanding practice

Explore seven key aspects to foster outstanding practice in a nursery setting.

Current figures show 14% of nurseries have achieved an Outstanding judgement from Ofsted while 82% of nurseries have a Good judgement.

Achieving an outstanding Ofsted judgement requires thorough planning, high standards of care and a commitment to continuous improvement. Below are seven key aspects to focus on, to ensure your setting is ready for inspection.

1. Leadership and management

Ensure the setting has a clear vision and strategy for delivering high quality early years education
Employ well trained, qualified staff who are consistently supported through effective on-going training
Implement and regularly update policies and procedures, ensuring they are read and understood by all staff.

2. Quality of education

Develop a rich, well-rounded curriculum that is responsive to the needs and interests of the children. It should offer a wide range of learning experiences and support all areas of development
Teaching should be engaging, purposeful, fun and tailored to individual children’s needs
Provide for the needs of all children, including those with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and ensure equality of opportunity.

3. Personal development

Encourage and support children to be independent, resilient and confident. Provide plenty of opportunities for them to develop their social, emotional and physical skills
Promote a positive, inclusive culture where children learn to respect themselves and others. Promote positive behaviour strategies throughout the setting.

4. Safeguarding

Ensure all staff are well trained and up-to-date with safeguarding procedures. Make sure everyone knows how to identify and respond to concerns
Maintain a safe environment for children to learn and play, regularly checking facilities and equipment and acting immediately if safety issues arise.

5. Engagement with parents and the wider community

Actively engage with parents and keep them informed about their child’s learning and development
Build strong links with the local community to enhance the setting’s provision and children’s learning experiences.

6. Continuous improvement

Regularly evaluate the setting’s practice as a staff team but also seek feedback from children, parents and other stakeholders such as directors, trustees and the local authority. Use this feedback to inform the cycle of continuous improvement
Develop and implement clear action plans to address any identified area for improvement.

7. Evidence and documentation

Keep records that demonstrate the progress and outcomes of the children, the impact of the curriculum and the effectiveness of the teaching
Ensure all policies and other documentation is relevant, up to date and easily accessible
Ensure you are familiar with the Ofsted Early Years Inspection Handbook.

Looking for more support on nursery inspections?

See our ‘Outstanding practice‘ online course or our ‘Intent, implementation and impact in the EYFS‘ online course or Developing Outstanding Practice live virtual classroom training.

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England
Inspections
Ofsted