5 Common Ofsted Questions (And How to Answer Them)
Preparing for your Ofsted registration visit or inspection? We break down the most common questions based on real childminder experiences.
KinderStart Team
Jan 30, 2026 • 7 min read
Key Takeaways
Pro Tip: Have a drink to hand during your visit. Whether it's your registration or an inspection, there's a LOT of talking! Most visits last around 2 hours.
What to expect from an Ofsted visit
Whether you're going through your registration visit or facing an inspection, Ofsted will ask detailed questions about safeguarding, education, and your childcare practice.
Based on real childminder experiences, here are the 5 most common types of questions you'll face—and how to answer them confidently.
Question 1: "What would you do if a parent arrived to collect a child under the influence?"
What they're testing: Your safeguarding judgement and procedures in a high-pressure situation.
❌ Don't say: "I'd just hand the child over and hope for the best."
✅ Do say:
- "I would not allow the child to leave with them. I would explain calmly that I have a duty of care."
- "I would contact the emergency contacts listed on the child's registration form and keep trying until someone answers."
- "If the parent attempts to drive away with the child, I would call the police immediately and report the registration number."
- "I would record the incident in my safeguarding log with times and details."
📱 App Tip:
KinderStart's Incident Logs let you record safeguarding concerns in real-time with timestamps and details. You can flag sensitive incidents as "Do Not Share with Parents" for your records only.
Question 2: "Would you be concerned if a child consistently arrived with bruises on their knees?"
What they're testing: Can you differentiate between normal childhood injuries and potential safeguarding concerns?
❌ Don't say: "Bruises on knees are normal, I wouldn't worry."
✅ Do say:
"Bruises on knees and shins are very common in active toddlers and usually not concerning. However, if I noticed them consistently, I would:"
- "Note the pattern, location, and frequency in my observation records."
- "Look for other signs of concern—changes in behaviour, unexplained injuries in unusual places (e.g., soft tissue areas), or the child flinching."
- "If I had multiple concerns, I would call the Access and Response Team (local safeguarding hub) for advice."
- "I would not directly accuse the parents, but I would follow the escalation procedures in my safeguarding policy."
📱 App Tip:
Use KinderStart's Body Map feature to log any existing injuries when a child arrives. This creates a dated record and helps you spot patterns over time.
Question 3: "How do you know Child C is making progress?"
Translation: Prove to me they are learning, not just playing.
❌ Don't say: "I just know."
✅ Do say: "When 'Child C' started, he was non-verbal. Through our daily singing sessions and Chatterbox activities, he is now using two-word phrases."
📱 App Tip:
Use the Assessment Tracker in KinderStart. You can pull up a graph showing their development in "Communication & Language" over the last 6 months. A graph speaks louder than words!
Question 4: "How do you share this progress with parents?"
Translation: Is learning continuing at home?
❌ Don't say: "I tell them at the door." (Ofsted knows the doorstep handover is rushed).
✅ Do say: "I send daily digital updates including photos and observations. Parents can comment on these photos to tell me what they did at the weekend, creating a two-way flow of information."
📱 App Tip:
With KinderStart's Parent Portal, parents receive instant notifications when you log an observation or photo. They can comment and engage with their child's learning journey in real-time.
Question 5: "What happens if a child has an accident?"
Translation: Are you safe and compliant?
❌ Don't say: "I write it on a slip of paper."
✅ Do say: "I log it immediately on my digital system. It records the time, location, and injury. The parent receives an alert instantly and digitally signs the form at pickup, so there is a permanent, un-editable record."
📱 App Tip:
KinderStart's Accident & Incident Logs are timestamped, GPS-tagged, and create an immutable audit trail. Show the inspector your digital compliance records in seconds.
Summary: Evidence is Everything
The key to a "Good" or "Outstanding" grade is Impact. You need to show that what you do makes a difference.
You can do this with paper binders, but it takes hours to find the right page. With KinderStart, you have your evidence in your pocket, ready to show the inspector in seconds.