Developing a framework for early learning and childcare: Next steps

We have started planning a pilot phase of the new framework and its quality indicators. This will take place until March 2025 and will allow us to develop new approaches to inspection using the framework.  

We will continue to use our existing frameworks and approaches for inspection while the new approaches are developed, ahead of implementation in September 2025. 

In the meantime, early learning and childcare settings can explore the new framework and get familiar with its content and structure. A frequently asked questions (FAQs) document has also been published to accompany the framework.

Throughout this pilot phase we will continue to work closely with our stakeholders and to listen carefully to your views.

We will continue to update this page with information about the pilot phase.