What Australia can learn from the UK’s new inspection framework

As Australia prepares for wide-reaching changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) in 2026, it is timely to examine how other countries are evolving their approaches to regulation and quality assurance in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Recent updates to the United Kingdom’s (UK) Ofsted inspection framework offer key insights for Australian providers, policymakers and sector leaders as they navigate the next wave of reforms.

The shifts aim to promote consistency, transparency and a renewed focus on children’s development, themes that closely align with Australia’s goals for continuous improvement and workforce capability.

Key changes in the UK

The UK has updated its Early Years Inspection Handbook to:

• Clarify expectations for quality learning environments
• Reinforce the importance of educator-child interactions, language development and curriculum intent
• Provide clearer, more accessible feedback for educators and families
• Emphasise professional judgement over compliance checklists
• Pilot a supportive inspection tone that focuses on improvement, not fault-finding
• Increase attention on emotional wellbeing, inclusion and sense of belonging
• Recognise learning embedded in daily routines, especially in home-based settings
• Prioritise professional reflection, reducing reliance on paperwork in favour of conversations and contextual evidence

These updates reflect a broader shift towards regulatory approaches that support, not just enforce, quality, professionalism and sector morale.

Australia’s upcoming NQF changes similarly focus on child safety, workforce quality and educator capability. Updates to Quality Areas 2 and 7, the introduction of mandatory child safety training, and the establishment of the Early Childhood Worker Register signal a move towards more robust and transparent oversight.

However, as with the UK’s Ofsted reforms, it will be essential for Australia to:

• Empower rather than overwhelm providers
• Respect educator autonomy while upholding child safety
• Provide constructive, accessible feedback that builds sector confidence
• Recognise context and diversity across settings

Lessons and opportunities

1. Clear communication with families Ofsted’s updated reports are designed to be more accessible to families, offering parent-friendly summaries that build trust and engagement. Australia can continue to improve in this area by ensuring that assessment outcomes and compliance communications are similarly transparent and easy to understand.
2. Supportive tone and relational regulation The UK’s shift towards relational inspections, focusing on improvement rather than penalties, offers a valuable model. As Australian authorised officers prepare for expanded enforcement powers, maintaining a relationship-based, strengths-focused approach will be critical.
3. Focus on pedagogy, not just compliance Ofsted now places stronger emphasis on curriculum thinking, professional intent and meaningful interactions. Australia’s Assessment and Rating (A&R) process could further develop in this direction, spotlighting pedagogical quality alongside regulatory compliance.
4. Reflective practice and reduced administrative burden The UK’s updated framework encourages educators to demonstrate professional knowledge through dialogue and reflection, not just documentation. This move is especially relevant in Australia, where excessive paperwork has long been a concern. Future reforms could reduce administrative load and reaffirm educators’ expertise.
5. Validation of learning through daily routines In the UK, learning that occurs during everyday experiences, such as mealtimes or outdoor play, is now more explicitly valued. This is especially important for Australian services like family day care, where flexible, relational learning environments are common.
6. Inclusive practice and emotional security The new EIF explicitly assesses how settings meet the needs of all children, including those with additional needs, and how they support emotional wellbeing. Australian reforms aimed at inclusion and child safety could be strengthened by clearly integrating these expectations into A&R and regulatory frameworks.
7. Recognition of sector diversity Ofsted’s approach acknowledges the diversity of service types and avoids a one-size-fits-all inspection model. Australia’s regulatory bodies could consider how to better tailor their processes to recognise the unique strengths and contexts of different service types.
8. Reinforcing professionalism and relational accountability Through these updates, Ofsted affirms the professionalism of educators and the centrality of relationships, with children, families and regulators. As Australia moves towards the next phase of NQF reform, these values should remain front and centre.

International frameworks such as the UK’s updated EIF demonstrate that reform is most effective when it balances accountability with support, and when regulation is built on clarity, respect and shared purpose.

For Australia, 2026 will be a defining year. As new laws come into effect, it will be essential to keep children’s wellbeing, educator confidence and sector sustainability at the heart of every decision.

Source: Children & Young People Now (2026), “What Inspection Framework Updates Mean for Childcare Professionals”