32 Ofsted safeguarding questions and answers for early years

We’ve combined our expert EYFS knowledge, the latest September 2026 Ofsted toolkit updates and recent customer inspection experience to bring you and your nursery team 32 of the most important safeguarding questions Ofsted might ask during your next inspection.

Our Ofsted safeguarding questions and answers are underpinned by the Department for Education’s safeguarding statutory guidance for early years settings.

All our Ofsted questions, answers and safeguarding scenarios are checked against:

• The Early Years Inspection Toolkit (for inspections from September 2026)
• The EYFS statutory framework 2026 (updated September 2026)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
• KCSIE 2026

EYFS Ofsted inspections and safeguarding

Before the changes to how Ofsted inspects nurseries in November 2025, safeguarding was threaded through each evaluation area. But with the overhaul of the Ofsted inspection system in November 2025, safeguarding now has its own category.

Nurseries now receive a ‘met’ or ‘not met’ grading for their safeguarding provision and practice.

Safeguarding is the first priority each inspector will explore, ensuring the baseline of child welfare, safety and development is met before moving onto the other areas of evaluation:

• Inclusion
• Curriculum and teaching
• Achievement
• Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines
• Children’s welfare and wellbeing
• Leadership and governance

A nursery provision must have child safety and wellbeing at the forefront of strategic and operational decisions. Ofsted evaluates how well an EYFS setting is providing the provision set out in the Statutory EYFS Framework during inspections.

How to use these Ofsted safeguarding questions and answers

We’ve split our Ofsted questions and answers into seven main sections to help you and your nursery team unpick the areas together.

1. Questions and scenarios about child protection
2. Questions and scenarios about suitable people
3. Questions about early years staffing
4. Questions about staff ratios
5. Questions and scenarios about health and safety
6. Questions about behaviour and safeguarding
7. Questions about EYFS environments

The questions and suggested answer points are designed as a jumping-off point only, to ensure you and your practitioners are confident to shout about your EYFS safeguarding provision in your next inspection.

As you’ll know, inspectors are looking for clear signs of strong leadership and governance, exploring how you tailor strategic decisions to meet the needs of your children and community.

EYFS Ofsted safeguarding questions for child protection

1. What safeguarding processes do you follow if you have a safety concern about a child in your setting?

• Staff should be vigilant to signs of safety concerns. An ‘it could happen here’ mindset is essential, and it’s one of the factors named in Ofsted’s updated Early Years Inspection Toolkit.

• Staff training should help staff recognise signs of abuse and neglect, including in babies, non-verbal children and those with SEND.

• As set out in your safeguarding policy, your team will recognise, respond, record and report the concern to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

• The DSL will decide on immediate action or further monitoring, and make timely referralsto external agencies for advice or support.

• Unexplained absences are followed up, and staff feel confident to raise concerns through your whistleblowing procedure.

• Challenge your team to think about the type of safety concern and how they would act to keep children safe straight away.

Bonus question: What is your safeguarding procedure if the DSL isn’t immediately available (like during an off-site trip)? It comes up often, and it’s a good question to include when preparing your practitioners for inspection.

2. An allegation has been made against a member of your nursery team, what is your investigation procedure?

• Investigations are timely, thorough and impartial, whether the allegation is against staff, volunteers, contractors or visitors.

• Ofsted must be told about any allegation of harm or abusewithin 14 days. The 2026 EYFS framework changes saw the removal of the word ‘serious’ from this requirement, so the threshold is now lower.

• The DSL is informed and the LADO notified for advice and guidance (even if the DSL is involved in the allegation).

• Leaders know when to involve the police and when they have a legal duty to refer to the DBS.

• Immediate actions may be needed during the investigation to keep children and staff safe.

• Low-level concerns are recorded too, and kept with your safeguarding records so patterns can be spotted early (these are also one of the documents your inspector will want to see).

Remember – you must remain impartial throughout the investigation and make sure your team member is suitably supported, either by you or another named team member. Our guide to supporting your nursery team’s mental health has practical ideas to help you.

3. What is your setting’s mobile phone policy, and how is it enforced?

• Your policy should cover phones, cameras and any device that can take and share images, and apply to practitioners, parents and visitors.

• You may have restricted areas where phones aren’t permitted (like nursery rooms and nappy changing areas).

• Photos and observations should only be taken on setting-owned devices, with images stored securely rather than on personal phones. Using a secure system for observations and development tracking keeps children’s images in one protected place.

• Consider how your emergency procedures use mobile phones for contact (whilst off-site, etc.) and how this phone use can be monitored.

• You may also want to include smartwatches. How can you ensure a child or parent can never see inappropriate messages or images on a watch?

The DfE has set up an expert panel to review how CCTV and digital devices are used in early years settings, and guidance is expected to follow. In the meantime, keep your policy under regular review, alongside the new requirement to have regard to the DfE’s screen use guidance for children.

4. What steps do you take to ensure practitioners can confidently identify, understand and respond to possible signs of abuse or neglect?

• Your planned safeguarding training meets the requirements in Section 3 of the EYFS, and your policy explains how it’s delivered and embedded in practice.
• (The DfE’s free online early years safeguarding training package can support induction and refresher training).

• Your policies reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026and your local safeguarding procedures.

• A suitably trained senior member of staff is appointed as DSL, and practitioners know how to reach them and how they support concerns.

• Staff understand that young children may not recognise abuse, and that children with SEND often rely on adults to notice.

• Scenarios and reflective practicein staff meetings build a confident safeguarding culture.

5. Scenario: A parent is suspected to be under the influence of alcohol on nursery drop-off and/or pick-up, what do you do?

• As this is a foreseeable risk, your setting should have a risk assessment and linked procedure to follow.

• Child safety comes first, which can mean refusing to hand the child over to the parent.

• The practitioner keeps the child with them while a senior team member speaks to the parent calmly and privately.

• Another authorised adult is contacted to collect the child, using the collection details in their child profile.

• If the parent insists on leaving with the child, or intends to drive, contact the police. The DSL then decides whether a referral to children’s social care is needed.

• All interactions are recorded in detail.

Remember – focus on what you observe, as some medical conditions (like a diabetic hypo) can look like intoxication.

6. What is your understanding of Prevent duty, and how do you increase nursery practitioner confidence?

• The Prevent duty aims to stop people being drawn into terrorism, and registered childcare providers, including nurseries, must have due regard to it.

• In the early years, concerns more often involve the adults around a child than the child’s own views, so staff notice what children say, play or draw.

• Staff complete Prevent awareness training (the Home Office offers free online courses) and know to report any concern to the DSL.

• Not following the Prevent duty is listed as a ‘not met’ factor in Ofsted’s Early Years Inspection Toolkit.

• Through your EYFS curriculum, children explore different viewpoints, traditions and faiths as part of your fundamental British values offer

Safeguarding questions about suitable people

7. What systems are in place to ensure all people in contact with the children are suitable?

Leaders complete safer recruitment training and follow it, including reference checks (and overseas checks for anyone who’s lived or worked outside the UK).

DBS checks are essential for everyone working with children, with the certificate number and date recorded.

From September 2026, volunteers need an enhanced DBS and barred list check before their first session, even when supervised. Only those helping fewer than three days in 30, with no personal or overnight care, are exempt.

Visitors and contractors are checked, signed in and supervised appropriately.

Induction for new staff prioritises safeguarding expectations, systems and procedures.

8. How do you use self-declaration forms in your nursery setting?

• Once a candidate is shortlisted, they complete a self-declaration covering convictions, cautions, arrests, charges and anything that could disqualify them from working in childcare.

• The 2026 EYFS widened this duty to include arrests and charges, and to people who’ve been offered a role but haven’t started yet.

• Existing staff know they must tell you straight away about any change, and your safeguarding policy includes this expectation.

• Disqualification by association now only applies to childcare on domestic premises, so check which rules apply to your setting.

• Signed declarations are kept securely with each person’s staff records and reviewed regularly.

9. Scenario: Information is brought to light about an existing employee’s behaviour outside of work that involves illegal activity, what process do you follow?

• Consult your safeguarding policy and seek advice from the LADO. Behaviour outside work can meet the harm threshold if it suggests the person may not be suitable to work with children.

• Check whether the information could affect their suitability or lead to disqualification, and notify Ofsted where it does.

• If you’re part of a nursery group, involve your group’s safeguarding lead, keeping information confidential and shared only with those who need it.

• Child safety comes first, and you clearly record your decisions and the reasons for them.

• You consider your practitioner’s wellbeing and offer appropriate support throughout.

10. Scenario: A staff member is taking new medication, this medication has been making them drowsy. You have noticed this during conversations with them, and other team members have told you as well. What do you do?

• Have a quiet, supportive chat and ask them to check with their GP or prescribing doctor whether the medication affects their ability to care for children.

• Until they’ve had that advice, move them away from working directly with children and adjust your rota so you’re still in ratio.

• The EYFS statutory framework says they should only go back to working directly with children if medical advice confirms the medication is unlikely to affect their care.

• Their medication must be stored securely and out of children’s reach at work.

• Note what you agreed and keep their health information confidential, so your team feels able to come to you early next time.

Ofsted questions and answers about EYFS staffing

11. Can you talk me through your EYFS staff induction process?

• Before they start, you complete suitability checks, and new starters read your key policies and staff code of conduct.

• Induction covers what the EYFS requires: emergency evacuation, safeguarding and child protection, your equality policy and health and safety.

• From day one, they know who your DSL is, how to report a concern and how your whistleblowing procedure works.

• They’re set up with only the system access their role needs, in line with your approach to protecting your nursery’s data.

• A tour of the setting includes fire exits, meeting points and where first aid kits and emergency medication are kept.

• Newly qualified level 2 and 3 staff need a full paediatric first aid certificate within three months of starting to count in ratios.

• Mandatory training is recorded and tracked in your online systems.

• A mentor or buddy helps them settle into routines and see good practice in action.

12. What are your nursery emergency evacuation procedures?

• Consider every incident that might mean leaving the building, like fire, a gas leak or a flood. A threat of violence may call for a lockdown instead (see question 31).

• Plan how you’ll move babies and non-mobile children quickly, and work with your SENCo on individual plans for children with SEND.

• Check exits, alarms and equipment as part of your daily risk assessments.

• Account for every child, staff member and visitor using a digital register you can take outside.

• Review your procedures after every drill and whenever something changes.

13. How do staff recognise a developmental concern?

• Regular, accurate EYFS observations and tracking help key persons notice when a child isn’t progressing as expected.

• The progress check at age two is completed and shared with parents, so concerns are identified early.

• Practitioners raise concerns with your EYFS SENCo, who uses the graduated approach (assess, plan, do, review) to decide on next steps.

• Your nursery has a designed system for inclusive practice, helping your practitioners know what to do next.

• Effective communication with parents and external professionals, like health visitors and speech and language therapists, builds a full picture of the child.

• Staff know that a delay can sometimes be a sign of neglect, so they share concerns with the DSL too where needed.

• All staff understand the bigger picture of SEND needs nationally and the widespread barriers to learning and participation.

14. What training and progression are available for staff?

• A proactive culture where practitioners feel able to tell leaders about gaps in their knowledge (in safeguarding, SEND, curriculum or best practice).

• Regular supervision meetings give staff time to discuss training needs, children’s development and any concerns, as the EYFS requires.

• Safeguarding training meets the EYFS criteria and is refreshed regularly, alongside training on safe sleep, weaning and safer eating.

• Training is mapped out in a nursery CPD plan linked to your setting’s priorities and each practitioner’s goals.
• Leaders keep learning too, an aspect that Ofsted looks for when it inspects leadership and governance.

15. How do you support practitioners in managing sensitive discussions with families?

• Secure, trusting relationships with families are built from the start, so difficult conversations are easier to have.

• Scenario-based training prepares staff for sensitive topics (safeguarding, SEND identification and behaviour), including dealing with upset or angry parents.

• Less experienced practitioners shadow senior colleagues in sensitive conversations (where appropriate).

• Staff know the confidentiality expectations and that safeguarding concerns are never discussed with a parent before speaking to the DSL, as this could put a child at risk.

• Practitioners recognise trauma-informed approaches for children and parents.

Early years Ofsted questions about staff ratios

16. How do you ensure staffing arrangements meet high safety requirements?

• EYFS ratios now apply across the whole setting, not room by room, so you’re tracking staff and children across the building throughout the day.

• Software helps you plan staff rotas safely and monitor occupancy so that absences can be covered quickly.

• Staff qualifications are checked, so each practitioner only counts in ratios at the level they’re qualified for.

17. In light of the recent EYFS guidance, how do you ensure children are safely monitored when eating?

• Children are always within sight and hearing of staff while eating, with a member of staff holding a full paediatric first aid certificate in the room.

• Staff talk to parents about each child’s stage of weaning, rather than assuming based on age.

• Food is prepared in line with the DfE’s food safety guidance to reduce choking risks.

• Calm mealtimes and regularly reviewed risk assessments keep everyone safe.

Remember – safer eating and weaning are now part of how Ofsted inspects children’s welfare and wellbeing.

EYFS Ofsted questions for health and safety

18. How is oral health promoted in your nursery?

The EYFS requires you to promote children’s oral health, and activities, stories, games and songs make it part of everyday learning.

• Healthy eating and drinking choices are promoted at every meal and snack, and children are taught about them.

• Parents get regular, practical advice on healthy snacks and drinks, which can help bust common nursery nutrition myths.

• Staff are trained in oral health awareness and share simple tips with parents, like brushing twice a day.

• Check whether your local authority runs a supervised toothbrushing scheme you could join.

19. How are infectious (or potentially infectious) illnesses or diseases managed in your setting?

• Your setting has clear policies on common infectious illnesses (like Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease), shared regularly with parents.

• Exclusion periods follow UKHSA’s guidance, Health protection in children and young people settings.

• Good hygiene practices are followed across the nursery.

• Parents are told at the earliest opportunity to help control the spread of illness (like chickenpox).

• Outbreaks are reported to your local health protection team, and Ofsted is told about any food poisoning affecting two or more children.

20. How is children’s medication administered and stored safely?

• Written parental consent is in place for each medicine before it’s given, and every dose is recorded on digital medication forms.

• Prescription medicines are only given when prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist.

• Staff are trained to give specific medication (like insulin) where needed.

• All medication is stored safely, and staff know where it is and how to access it in an emergency.

• Emergency medication, like asthma inhalers, is in date and has parental consent for use.

• Parents are told the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable, when their child has been given medication.

21. Scenario: A parent brings prescribed medication from the doctor for a baby (aged 3 months) for suspected thrush of the mouth. The twin brother is showing similar signs, the parent asks your nursery team to share the medication between the babies. What do you do?

• Kindly explain your medication policy: medicine is only given to the child it was prescribed for, even between siblings.

• Suggest the parent takes the twin back to the doctor so he can be assessed and prescribed his own medication if he needs it.

• Record the conversation and let the twin’s key person know to keep an eye on his symptoms.

• Follow your usual sickness policy if either baby has a temperature or needs medical attention, contacting the parent to collect.

22. How do you make sure your nursery menu is healthy and nutritious?

• Menus follow the DfE’s early years nutrition guidance, which providers must have regard to under the EYFS.

• Each meal and snack includes a variety of food groups, in age-appropriate portions.

• Children are offered water and milk to drink.

• Children are encouraged to try new foods (in line with their dietary requirements), and any unexpected reactions, like a sore tummy, are logged and shared with parents.

For more ideas, our podcast episode on unlocking the power of early years nutrition is a great listen.

23. What steps do you take to monitor all dietary requirements?

• Accurate, detailed information on allergies and dietary needs is collected from parents before a child starts, using online all about me forms.

• Allergy and care plans are agreed with parents (and health professionals where needed), including what to do in an emergency.

• Child Profiles make sure every staff member knows each child’s needs at mealtimes.

• Statutory allergy requirements are understood and followed by all staff members.

• Staff are trained in allergies and common (and often misunderstood) conditions, like coeliac disease, and how they can present differently.

• Mealtime systems, like named placemats, help prevent mix-ups and cross-contamination.

Early Years Ofsted questions about behaviour and safeguarding

24. Describe your physical intervention process

• Physical intervention is a last resort, only used to prevent immediate danger or injury to the child or others, and corporal punishment is never used.

• Staff are trained in de-escalation techniques, so most situations are calmed before physical intervention is needed.

• Where it’s needed, staff are trained in recognised approaches (like Team Teach).

• Every incident is recorded, and parents are told the same day or as soon as reasonably practicable.

• A plan is agreed with parents to reduce the chance of it happening again.

25. How does your EYFS behaviour policy promote wellbeing?

• Rewards and consequences are carefully considered to avoid shaming and unnecessary isolation, and are in line with each child’s stage of development.

• Self-regulation and emotional regulation are taught explicitly, with adults co-regulating and giving specific praise for positive behaviours and choices.

• Reasonable adjustments for children with SEND are part of your inclusive practice.

• Leaders are aware of trauma-informed approaches when designing the behaviour policy.

Bonus – you can test your policy against our EYFS behaviour and attitudes quiz.

26. How do you encourage self-esteem and positive mental health in your nursery?

• Key persons build warm, secure attachments, so children feel safe to express their feelings.

• Children’s mental health is prioritised through modelling calming strategies and ways to self-regulate, building mentally healthy habits from an early age.

• Children’s interests and developing skills are celebrated, and every team member champions self-esteem.

• Practitioners know the risk factors for poor mental health in early years children and share useful information with parents.

• Staff wellbeing is monitored, and workload is kept manageable.

Ofsted questions about EYFS environments

27. How do you ensure expected fire safety requirements are met?

• A fire risk assessment is in place and reviewed regularly, as fire safety law requires, and updated whenever your building or numbers change.

• The EYFS requires fire detection and control equipment, like alarms, smoke detectors, extinguishers and fire blankets, to be in working order.

• Emergency exits are kept clear, and every staff member knows the evacuation process.

• Named fire marshals are trained, and fire safety training is refreshed with scenarios during staff meetings.

28. What are your fire detection monitoring processes?

• A calendar sets out equipment checks, typically weekly alarm tests, monthly emergency lighting checks and annual servicing by a competent person.

• Records of every test, fault, repair and drill are kept in a fire log book that’s easy to show an inspector.

29. How do you manage vaping and e-cigarette use at your nursery?

• Your staff code of conduct and no smoking or vaping policy apply to everyone on the premises, including parents and visitors.

• The EYFS says smoking must not be allowed in or on the premises when children are present or about to be present, and it makes sense to apply the same rule to vaping.

• Staff keep vapes and e-liquids locked away with their belongings, as nicotine liquid is poisonous if swallowed.

• Standard smoke alarms don’t always pick up vapour, so dedicated vape detectors can help in toilets and staff areas.

30. How do you make sure all children are safe when sleeping in your setting?

• The safer sleep requirements are now part of the 2026 EYFS, and every practitioner knows them.

• Babies under six months always have an adult in the same room for every sleep.

• Babies are placed on their backs to sleep, on a firm, flat mattress with no pillows, bumpers or loose bedding, and sleep bags fitted to their size.

• Sleep rooms are kept at a comfortable temperature (the Lullaby Trust recommends 16 to 20°C).

• Babies who fall asleep in a buggy or car seat are moved to a cot.

• Regular checks are made and logged with sleep check recording, and cots and equipment are routinely checked.

31. What is your emergency process for a threat of violence?

• Staff are trained to recognise warning signs and use de-escalation techniques where it’s safe to do so.

• Leaders have a lockdown plan alongside your evacuation procedure, with a clear signal every staff member recognises.

• The plan covers keeping babies and young children calm and quiet, and who calls 999.

• Communication protocols are practised in scenario-based training, including how you’ll update parents quickly.

• The premises are secure, and a robust visitor procedure is in place.

32. How do you manage the risks your nursery staff face?

Staff face a range of risks, from lifting and carrying children to infectious illness, aggression from children or adults, and pressure on their mental health.

• Risk assessments are reviewed regularly, with individual assessments for pregnant staff, who may be at greater risk from some infections.

• Workplace injuries are recorded, and serious ones reported under RIDDOR.

• Leaders understand the health needs of their team, from mental health to supporting menopause in the workplace, and make reasonable adjustments where needed.

• Staff are protected from bullying, harassment and discrimination, and workload is kept manageable.

• Managers look after their own wellbeing too, so they can support their team.

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