Ofsted has changed the way it shares inspection results, and you might be wondering what that means when you’re choosing a nursery or checking how your child’s nursery is doing.

The new system is designed to be clearer, fairer and more helpful for families. Instead of one overall word, parents now get a fuller picture of what a nursery does well and where it continues to grow.

Why has Ofsted made a change

In the past, nurseries were given a single headline grade such as “Outstanding” or “Good”. Many parents felt these one-word labels were too blunt and did not really explain what day-to-day life was like for children.

With fewer than four in ten parents feeling the old system worked well, families said they wanted more detail and fewer assumptions. After listening to parents, carers and educators through a large national consultation, Ofsted introduced a new approach that focuses on clarity rather than labels.

Instead of one overall grade, Ofsted now publishes a report card for each nursery.

This breaks inspection outcomes down into key areas, helping parents understand strengths, priorities and what the experience is like for children. Safeguarding continues to be judged separately, so it is clear and easy to see whether it is “Met” or “Not Met”.

The new five-point scale, simply explained

Each inspection area is rated using the same five-point:

As of November 2025, Ofsted inspections now focus on six key areas:

1. Inclusion
2. Curriculum and teaching
3. Achievement
4. Attendance and behaviour
5. Personal development and wellbeing
6. Leadership and governance

How to read a nursery's report card

Each report card includes:

• A clear summary of grades across all six areas
• The safeguarding judgement
• Simple explanations of why each grade was given
• What it is like for children at the nursery
• Strengths and next steps for improvement
• Helpful context about the nursery and its community

Rather than relying on a single label, parents can see the full picture.

How does this help parents?

The new format is designed to support confident decision-making.

By sharing strengths alongside areas for development, report cards help parents understand how a nursery supports children and how it continues to improve. This makes it easier to choose what feels right for your child.

Where can I find inspection reports?

Ofsted now shares inspection outcomes through a new online insights platform.

Each nursery’s report card is linked directly from their nursery details page, making it simple to explore and compare information in one place.

A clearer picture for parents

The new Ofsted rating system is not about catching nurseries out. It is about giving families clearer, fairer and more meaningful information.

By focusing on what children experience every day, report cards help parents feel informed, reassured and confident in the choices they make for their child.