The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) introduced a wide range of legislative changes at the start of September, but from 10 November 2025, Ofsted are also introducing significant updates to their inspection framework. These changes are designed to increase transparency, raise standards and place a stronger emphasis on inclusion, safeguarding and child outcomes.
At Banana Moon, we’re actively welcoming these changes, and as a network we’ve been working diligently to ensure that our staff, Franchisees and prospective Franchisees are fully prepared and supported.
We’ve developed a suite of updated regulatory inspection PowerPoint slides, revised documentation and have scheduled a network-wide call for October, complete with breakout rooms for each country (England, Scotland and Wales). These sessions will allow each nursery to support one another through the changes and discuss how common themes affect each region. We’re also hosting a dedicated Moon Crew network call to review the inspection updates for out-of-school clubs.
We anticipate that the new inspection framework will align well with our Banana Moon well-being pledges, ensuring the process remains collaborative, focused on outcomes and supportive of our children, families and Early Years Professionals (EYPs).
- New five-point Ofsted grading scale
Gone are the familiar terms like ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Good’. The new framework introduces a five-tier system:
- Exceptional (highest)
- Strong standard
- Expected standard (midpoint)
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement (lowest)
This new scale is designed to create a more binary approach towards assessment while reducing stigma, and will help you, as a Franchisee, pinpoint exactly where your nursery can improve or celebrate success and communicate this effectively to both families and professionals.
- Colour-coded Ofsted report cards
Every Banana Moon nursery will now receive a report card, featuring:
- A colour-coded card that shows their grade in each area
- A concise summary of Ofsted’s findings and reasoning
- Contextual data (e.g. SEND levels, deprivation, size of setting, etc.)
This tool offers a clear representation of your strengths and areas to develop. It will also help you to make informed decisions as to how you can best support children in your care with additional needs or those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- New evaluation areas
There will now be six main inspection areas (with safeguarding assessed separately):
- Leadership and governance
- Inclusion
- Curriculum and teaching
- Achievement
- Attendance, behaviour and routines
- Children’s welfare and well-being
These clearly defined areas will help Franchisees focus team efforts on the specific elements that impact inspection outcomes most.
- Separate safeguarding judgement
Safeguarding will now be assessed independently from other areas. If safeguarding is rated as ‘not met’, regulatory actions will follow. This brings a greater spotlight on training, policy implementation and staff competence. Additionally, it will create greater transparency for families, staff and regulators as to how children’s well-being is prioritised. As a Franchisee, staying fully briefed on your team’s safeguarding processes is essential.
- Updated inspection toolkits
Ofsted have created tailored inspection toolkits for each education stage.
These toolkits will explain:
- What inspectors are looking for
- How evidence is gathered
- What defines ‘expected’ vs ‘exceptional’ practice
We’re encouraging all Banana Moon Franchisees and staff to read through the Early Years Inspection Toolkit: it details lots of key information that will help all team members – including how inspectors assess safeguarding, inclusion, curriculum, achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare and leadership and governance.
- Increased focus on inclusion and barriers to learning
Inclusion is now a big area of focus for Ofsted. Inspectors will expect to see early identification of needs and swift and efficient support for:
- Children funded by EYPP
- Children with SEND
- Children known to social care
You’ll also see this shift reflected in the new question asked during inspections: “What is it like to be a child in this nursery?” This heading will appear on your report card and will be based on direct child interaction and observation.
The Children’s Commissioner Report 2025 is an excellent resource to use to help Franchisees and practitioners understand and implement successful early implementation to give children the best opportunities in their education.
- Greater transparency in inspection reports
Nursery leaders have long argued that one-word grades don’t tell the whole story, and the latest changes from Ofsted seem to have incorporated this feedback.
The new reports will include:
- National comparison data (so families can compare fairly)
- SEND and deprivation levels
- Narratives alongside school results
This provides fairer evaluations, particularly for nurseries in disadvantaged areas. There is also talk of an ‘inclusion premium’ (additional funding stream) being introduced, which could support settings facing higher levels of need.
- Inspection frequency reduced from six to four years
From April 2026, routine inspections will occur every four years instead of six.
What this means for Franchisees:
- Plan for more frequent inspections
- Use self-evaluation and CPD planning as ongoing tools
- Stay inspection-ready year-round, not just when due
This also allows you to provide families with more up-to-date information and assurance of your setting’s safety and suitability as well as more regular and effective feedback for education providers.
- Earlier first inspections for new nurseries
From April 2026, newly registered EYFS providers will be inspected within 12 to 18 months (currently up to 30 months).
This shorter timeline means Franchisees will need to demonstrate quality and consistency sooner – ideal for building early confidence in your new nursery.
For Franchisees looking to open a new Banana Moon nursery, you should:
- Plan for your first inspection within 18 months of registration
- Use the first year to build and implement consistent practice for good evaluation
- If any areas are judged as ‘needs attention’ or ‘urgent improvement’ you can expect a reinspection in 6 to 12 months
- Shorter, more manageable inspection days
Ofsted will now:
- Keep inspection days capped (e.g. ending by 5pm)
- Limit arrival times
- Aim to reduce paperwork by using documentation already in daily practice
This change is intended to reduce stress and fatigue, making inspections more focused and efficient for all staff.
- Improved inspection process
Ofsted is aiming for a more collaborative and consistent experience, including:
- Collaborative inspections: inspectors will have professional discussions with education practitioners.
- Context-informed: inspections will consider local challenges and intake.
- Consistency: all inspectors will also be updated on how to use the new toolkits.
- Supportive roles: nurseries can nominate a person to help manage information as inspections are conducted.
- Extra inspectors: more inspectors will attend larger or complex settings.
- Not adding to the workload: documents already used in daily practice are enough.
- Higher quality assurance: inspections will be more thoroughly reviewed.
- Improved complaints process: providers will have clearer and easier access to challenge errors.
- Support for nurseries graded ‘Needs attention’
If your nursery is graded ‘Needs attention’, Ofsted will provide:
- Clear, practical actions for improvement
- Follow-up inspections within 12 months
- Additional monitoring if necessary
If graded ‘Urgent improvement’, reinspection happens within 6 months and may involve regulatory steps.
- ‘Ofsted: Explore an area’ (Coming November 2025)
This new element allows inspectors to deep dive into a specific theme such as:
- SEND provision
- Language development
- Well-being routines
It aims to identify national best practice and systemic challenges, showcasing the positive work happening across Banana Moon nurseries. Not too much detail has been released on this aspect just yet, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated!
- Increased Ofsted inspection capacity
While most of this relates to state-funded schools, larger nurseries may see additional inspectors attend their visit. This is intended to:
- Improve consistency – lead inspectors will have the chance to have meaningful conversations with leaders and co-ordinate with teams
- Reduce pressure on leaders – providing leaders with a regular point of contact during the inspection
- Provide deeper evidence gathering – allowing the wider inspection team to evaluate evidence and focus on details of their evaluations
What’s next for Banana Moon franchisees?
At Banana Moon, we’re committed to helping our franchisees and teams navigate every change with clarity and confidence – and the recent inspection reforms are no exception.
We see these changes not as challenges, but as an opportunity to improve and meet evolving demands. We’re using this moment as a springboard to:
- Reaffirm our commitment to well-being
- Strengthen our support for all children, families and Early Years Professionals
- Ensure every team member lives and breathes our mission, values and operational excellence every day
We believe these new inspection frameworks will lead to fairer, more focused and more collaborative outcomes – helping both franchisees and Early Years Professionals truly thrive.
At the heart of our approach is our Early Learning and Development Programme – our bespoke curriculum where children learn through play, not through rigid, adult-led activities. By starting with each child’s fascinations, our planning, teaching and environments are shaped to support well-being and holistic progress across all areas of learning.
With Banana Moon, you’re not just adapting to change – you’re embracing it with the right support, the right values and a curriculum that puts children, families and professionals first.
