Resources > New ofsted framework – September 2025
New ofsted framework – September 2025
Overview
The education inspection framework (‘the framework’) sets out how Ofsted inspects registered early years settings, maintained schools, academies, non-association independent schools and further education and skills provision in England (for a full list, see Provision inspected under the education inspection framework). It includes the principles that apply to inspection, and the main evaluations that inspectors make. The framework applies to our inspections of different early years, education and skills settings. It supports consistency across the different areas of our work (or ‘remits’) and enables comparisons between them.
Summary
- New 5-point grading scale, including the new ‘exceptional’ grade, designed to raise standards, confirmed following support from parents.
Parents and carers to receive the detailed information about nurseries, schools and colleges they’ve asked for, with strengths and areas for improvement highlighted.
Schools and colleges with identified areas for improvement to receive additional monitoring inspections, to ensure swift improvements are made.
Nurseries and childminders to be inspected more frequently, to ensure all children receive the best start in life.
Disadvantaged and vulnerable children at the heart of reforms, with a focus on ‘inclusion’ in every inspection.
Further Support
Further reading can be found here ; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-inspection-framework/educationinspection-framework-for-use-from-november-2025