Everything you need to know to stay compliant with the Statutory Framework and pass your inspection.
All Ofsted-registered childminders on the Early Years Register must follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Compliance is non-negotiable and forms the basis of your inspection.
Legal requirements to keep children safe in your care.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training must be renewed every 2 years aligned with Annex C. All household adults must have an Enhanced DBS.
Statutory duty to follow up on child absences. Exact arrival and departure times must be logged daily.
Children must be within "sight and hearing" of a staff member at all times while eating. No auditory-only supervision.
Managing your setting's capacity within legal limits.
Children under the age of 8.
Flexibility Rule: You can exceed these ratios in specific circumstances (like siblings or your own children) if you can demonstrate you can still meet everyone's needs.
The written record of your professional practice.
Including whistleblowing procedures.
Required written copy for parents.
Written and signed by parents.
Formal record of all incidents.
Quick checklist for a compliant environment.
Not sure if you can take on that extra child? Use our interactive ratio checker to stay compliant.
Check RatiosPractice your 'deep dive' answers with our inspection simulator based on the 2026 framework.
Start SimulatorAutomate your attendance logs, accident reports, and medication consents to guarantee a 'Good' or 'Outstanding' rating.
Explore ComplianceKinderStart includes templates for every mandatory Ofsted policy, plus digital logs for attendance and medication.
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KinderStart strives for accuracy. Competitor features and pricing comparisons are based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Details are subject to change by respective providers.