VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Pre-school Education: Inspections

Asked by Tom MorrisonLiberal DemocratDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 23 July 2025UIN 66748

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of Ofsted inspections of early years settings have been unannounced in each of the last five years.

Answered by Stephen Morgan

Ofsted paused routine inspections in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Early Years Register inspections restarted in May 2021, including a number of unannounced inspections detailed below.

  • Between 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 there were 1,200 unannounced inspections (19%).
  • Between 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023 there were 2,100 unannounced inspections (16%).
  • Between 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 there were 2,200 unannounced inspections (24%).
  • Between 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 there were 1,400 unannounced inspections (16%).

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim