EYC support and intervention plan
Newly registered group providers
Where a setting is newly registered this will trigger support by The Education People on behalf of the Local Authority. The Senior Early Years Quality Adviser will allocate an Early Years Quality Adviser who will maintain regular contact and provide expert advice on:
- Leadership and governance
- Workforce development
- Statutory requirements, including safeguarding and welfare requirements
- Learning and development (not applicable for out of school groups)
- Creating a high-quality, inclusive environment.
The Early Years Quality Adviser or Out of School Quality Adviser will work with the provider to agree on a programme of ongoing support, which may include in-person and/or virtual meetings, phone calls, and email correspondence.
Newly registered childminders
When a childminder is newly registered with Ofsted on the Early Years Register, this will trigger support by The Education People on behalf of the Local Authority. The Senior Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Adviser will allocate a Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Adviser who will maintain contact, provide regular visits and expert advice on:
- Free Early Education Entitlements, business planning and development
- Creating a high-quality, inclusive environment
- Safeguarding and welfare requirements
- Curriculum, teaching and achievement
- Behaviours, attitudes and establishing routines; and Children’s welfare and wellbeing
- Leadership and governance
The Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Adviser will work with the childminder to arrange in person and/or virtual visits, phone calls and email correspondence.
Childminders registered with a childminding agency are supported with the quality of their provision by their agency. The Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Team can provide advice when further support outside of the universal provision for a child in their setting is required and also with any enquiries about the Free Early Education Entitlements. Please email childminding@theeducationpeople.org to access this support.
Threshold for Local Authority Support
Where a setting receives a judgement from Ofsted that is below the Expected Standard, but the evaluation area of Leadership and Governance is judged to be at the Expected Standard or above, this will trigger support by The Education People on behalf of the Local Authority based on the issues raised at inspection. It is extremely important that settings make good use of the support provided and make swift improvements in accordance with the Kent Provider Agreement.
The allocated Early Years Quality Adviser or Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Adviser will make contact to agree a programme of support to drive improvement and will focus primarily on the Ofsted actions and recommendations with the aim of securing the Expected Standard in all evaluation areas at the next inspection.
Threshold for Local Authority Intervention
Where a setting receives a judgement below the Expected Standard that includes the evaluation area of Leadership and Governance, and/or where Safeguarding is judged as Not Met from Ofsted, this will trigger intervention by The Education People on behalf of the Local Authority based on the issues raised at inspection. The Early Years and Childcare Service, acting on behalf of KCC, will lead a coordinated package of intervention support based on the indicators raised at inspection up until the providers’ next inspection. It is important that providers understand and engage with the offered support to make swift improvements to meet the Ofsted Expected Standard and in accordance with the Kent Provider Agreement.
Group settings
The Senior Early Years and Childcare Quality Adviser will:
- Meet with the provider or childminder and their allocated Early Years Quality Adviser or Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Adviser to agree a tailored programme of support and monitor progress
- Conduct a risk assessment to determine the frequency of Early Years Quality Adviser contact and any required monitoring activities
Childminders
The Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Adviser will meet with the childminder to agree a tailored programme of support and together with the Senior Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Adviser will monitor progress. Support will regularly be reviewed to inform the frequency of contact and monitoring activities.
Welfare Requirement Notices
There are occasions when Ofsted notifies the Local Authority that they have issued a ‘Welfare Requirement Notice’ (WRN). When a notification of a WRN for an early years and childcare setting is received, a member of the Early Years and Childcare Service will make contact to arrange a support visit to review and evaluate any necessary actions you need to take.
When a registered provider causes the Local Authority concern related to children’s safety the Local Authority has a duty to share these concerns with Ofsted.
For information and guidance on how the Support and Intervention Plan supports Kent’s out of school providers please visit our dedicated out of school page.
If you believe you fall within one of the categories above and have not been contacted by a member of the Early Years Quality Team or the Childminding Team please let us know by emailing EYCQuality@theeducationpeople.org or childminding@theeducationpeople.org.
Ofsted data
Prior to the introduction of the renewed Ofsted framework in November 2025, nationally, on average, 96% of all childcare providers on the Early Years Register were judged either good or outstanding. This had remained the same since 31 March 2022. However, since 2019 the proportion of outstanding childcare providers had decreased from 20% to 14%.
In Kent our data shows that on average, 97.2% of childcare providers on the Early Years Register were judged to be either good or outstanding. Of these 15.8% were judged outstanding.
We know from research that children who attend high quality early years settings are better placed to achieve positive outcomes in their school life and beyond. It is therefore our expectation in Kent is that all settings should aspire to be judged at least the expected standard by Ofsted and have a culture of continuing improvement.
Ofsted documents you may find useful:
- Education inspection framework: for use from November 2025 which includes inspection toolkits, operating guides and information.
- Ofsted inspector training videos
- Early years and childcare: Ofsted’s enforcement policy
Other useful links:
- Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage
- Kent Provider Agreement and free entitlements claim process
Contact details
Sufficiency and Sustainability Team
Email: sufficiencyandsustainability@theeducationpeople.org
EYC Quality Team
Email: EYCQuality@theeducationpeople.org
Childminding Quality and Sufficiency Team
Email: childminding@theeducationpeople.org