Strengths and areas for improvement in early learning and childcare

A new report presents findings from early learning and childcare inspections for academic year 2024 to 2025.

The report draws on evidence from inspections carried out by His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education. It highlights important strengths and priorities for further improvement.

Strengths

Inspectors found that positive, nurturing relationships are a significant strength in almost all settings. Children benefit from warm, safe and inclusive environments, where staff prioritise wellbeing and create supportive spaces for learning and development.

There is also a strong commitment to improvement across the sector. Staff and leaders work collaboratively with families, communities and partners, and engage in professional learning to enhance practice.

Areas for improvement

Leadership, self-evaluation and quality assurance are not yet consistent across all settings. Stronger strategic and pedagogical leadership is needed to support sustained improvement.

The findings also show that the quality of interactions and early years pedagogy varies across settings. While the curriculum is firmly based on play with meaningful learning experiences, greater depth, challenge and progression are needed to ensure all children are supported to make the best possible progress.

Approaches to assessment and tracking children’s learning also require strengthening. In many settings, more systematic use of data, moderation and evaluation is needed to better understand and support children’s progress over time.

The report also highlights that planning and support for children who require additional support is not yet consistently strong. Further work is needed to ensure inclusive practice is fully embedded.