The government pushes ahead with the reform agenda by scrapping single headline Ofsted judgements for schools with immediate effect. 

That means that Ofsted will no longer provide a single overall grade of effectiveness when inspecting state schools. Early Years provision in maintained schools and academies for children aged 2 and above and Maintained Nursery Schools are included in this change. 

The government is committed to replacing single headline grades in all the remits that Ofsted inspects in time, including the entirety of the early education and childcare sector. Until this change is made, all settings registered on the Early Years Register, including childminders and private, voluntary and independent providers will continue to receive a single headline grade of overall effectiveness alongside the sub judgements. There will also be no change to Childminder Agency (CMA) inspections at this time.  

This reform paves the way for the introduction of School Report Cards from September 2025, which will provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing and ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement. Recent data shows that reports cards are supported by 77% of parents. 

The government will continue to intervene in poorly performing schools to ensure high school standards for children. 

Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said:

“The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is overwhelmingly clear. The removal of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark moment for children, parents, and teachers.” 

It is recognised that this means different parts of the early education and childcare sector are impacted differently during this interim period. The DfE and Ofsted have committed to work in partnership with the sector over the next year to develop alternative inspection and regulation arrangements that maintain a strong focus on quality and standards, whilst responding to feedback on what needs to change. New arrangements will take account of the unique characteristics of the sector but will broadly reflect the report card approach that is being taken for schools.