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From 4 November 2013, a judgement of 鈥榬equires improvement鈥� will replace the current 鈥榮atisfactory鈥� judgement for all early years providers 鈥� as it has already for schools and colleges.

Publishing the outcomes of the Good early years provision for all consultation, which sets out Ofsted鈥檚 proposals for early years providers, Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty鈥檚 Chief Inspector, announced that 鈥榞ood鈥� will be the minimum standard expected.

From November, pre-schools and nurseries requiring improvement will have a maximum of two years to get to 鈥榞ood鈥� - otherwise they face the prospect of being judged 鈥榠nadequate鈥�.

Sir Michael Wilshaw said:

The early years are crucial. That鈥檚 why only a good standard of education and care is acceptable for our youngest children.

Pre-schools and nurseries need to give children a solid foundation. Two years is a long time in a child鈥檚 life and it鈥檚 long enough for a setting to improve. I agree with the parents who told us in our consultation that four years is too long to wait for a nursery to reach the good standard that every child deserves.

As a nation, we spend around 拢5 billion a year on funded early education but too many pre-schools and nurseries across the country are not yet good, particularly in the most deprived areas. That鈥檚 why Ofsted is determined to introduce greater challenge into the early years sector.

Early years provision is only as good as the quality of interaction between adults and children. The best providers understand the importance of teaching children through their play while also giving them structures and routines which bring order and security into their lives. It is vital that very young children make good progress so that they succeed in later years. I am clear that we ignore early education and care at our peril.

As a result of comments from the consultation, changes to the new inspection framework will include the following.

For all early years providers:

• the satisfactory judgement will be replaced by 鈥榬equires improvement鈥�
• 鈥榠nadequate鈥� settings are likely to be re-inspected after 6 months
• if an 鈥榠nadequate鈥� setting fails to improve sufficiently and is found 鈥榠nadequate鈥� again after re-inspection, Ofsted may take steps to cancel that setting鈥檚 registration

For pre-schools and nurseries:

• there will be re-inspection within a year for those which 鈥榬equire improvement鈥� with the expectation that the setting will get to 鈥榞ood鈥� within two years
• those that fail to improve after two years are likely to be judged 鈥榠nadequate鈥�

Ofsted will take into account the potential impact of an inadequate decision on a case by case basis when the first non-domestic providers judged to 鈥榬equire improvement鈥� approach the end of the 24 month period. Any decisions made will be taken in the best interests of the children and parents using the services inspected.

The formal consultation Good early years provision for all ran between April and May. Ofsted consulted on five key questions and received more than 2,500 responses from professionals, parents and carers. Their comments underpin these new inspection arrangements. The changes are intended to strengthen the impact of Ofsted鈥檚 inspection and improvement activity through more frequent monitoring of early years provision in settings which are not yet good.

The new inspection framework will be published in full in September with the first inspections under the new system beginning in November.

Notes to editors

1. The Good early years provision for all consultation outcome report is available on 188体育. Please note: the consultation did not include childminders as the government is considering new initiatives in this area, including the proposal for childminder agencies to be established.

2. Good early years provision for all consulted on a proposed time of four years for non-domestic settings, such as nurseries, that require improvement to get to 鈥榞ood鈥�. Comments made by respondents in the consultation said that four years is too long.