Contracted Ofsted inspectors for early years childcare and social care
Find out if you have the qualifications and experience to contract as an Ofsted inspector for childminders, day care and other childcare providers.
Applies to England
If you have the necessary qualifications and experience, you might be able to contract with us as an Ofsted inspector for childcare.
Ofsted can enter such contracts under schedule 12, paragraph 11 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
We also have a permanent employed inspector workforce of Regulatory Inspectors. There is separate guidance if you want to become a Regulatory Inspector.
Who can be a contracted Ofsted inspector
You can be a contracted inspector if you are:
- a serving practitioner
- a non-serving practitioner
You must not have been previously barred from being a proprietor or headteacher of a school under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008.
We must also be satisfied that you are not connected with any inspection judgements or circumstances that may undermine your track record as an effective leader or credibility as an inspector.
Qualifications and experience required: for early years
Your qualifications
You will need to be educated to degree level or have an equivalent level 6 qualification, such as:
- a teaching qualification
- an early years qualification
- a vocational or leadership and management qualification
Your experience
In addition to the qualifications above, you will need at least 3 years’ experience in the early years sector, for example:
- as a teacher
- providing childcare and early education
- as an early years manager
- providing early years training, inspecting or advising
You will also need to have experience in more than one provider.
Qualifications and experience required: for social care
You will need to have one of the following qualifications:
- social work degree or an equivalent professional social work qualification (for example, a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) or a Diploma in Social Work (DipSW))
- level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare
- an equivalent qualification, as defined by the Department for Education’s guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, 2015
Qualified social work applicants will also need to be registered with Social Work England.
In addition to the qualifications above, you will need:
- a minimum of 5 years’ experience at a senior level in providing children’s social care services (social care local authority only)
- a detailed knowledge and understanding of current social care issues and legislation gained in a suitably wide range of settings
- sound knowledge of safeguarding and child protection processes and procedures
- experience of preparing and delivering written reports and presentations to senior forums and boards
Skills and competencies required
You must be able to:
- use evidence to form hypotheses and questions
- identify priorities
- use evidence and your knowledge to evaluate options and arrive at well-reasoned decisions
- weigh complex and conflicting evidence to reach robust judgements
- write clear, accurate records and reports that explain your judgements convincingly and accurately
Register your interest
If you believe you meet the above requirements, you can register your interest to contract as an Ofsted inspector.
Updates to this page
Published 19 January 2022Last updated 1 November 2024 + show all updates
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New section added: 'Qualifications and experience required: for social care'.
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First published.