Introduction

This inspection round-up analysed 10 graded inspection reports from school age childcare services available on the Care Inspectorate's website on 16th February 2026. The dates of inspections ranged from November 2025 to January 2026.

Quality Headings Grade Patterns

Leadership grades ranged from Weak to Very Good. Where lower grades were awarded, inspectors identified significant weaknesses in quality assurance, safer recruitment procedures or governance systems. Several services achieved Very Good, demonstrating strong leadership and embedded improvement processes.

Some quick points about each of the four quality headings are:

• Leadership was graded in all inspected services. Grades ranged from Weak to Very Good, with the most common grade being Very Good.
• Children thrive and develop in quality spaces was assessed in 3 of the 10 inspections.
• Children play and learn was graded in 9 of the 10 inspections. Grades ranged from Adequate to Very Good, with the most common grade being Very Good.
• Children are supported to achieve was graded in 9 of the 10 inspections. Grades ranged from Weak to Very Good, with the most common grade being Good.

Across the 10 inspection reports, inspectors observed positive day-to-day experiences for children, underpinned by warm relationships, nurturing staff interactions and meaningful play opportunities.

However, where leadership systems were not sufficiently robust, this impacted areas such as recruitment processes, medication management, documentation and the monitoring of risk. Inspectors made clear links between the strength of leadership and the consistency of safe, high-quality practice.

In short, analysis of the reports suggests that relational practice and play experiences are strong across services, but effective leadership and governance systems are essential in sustaining safe and consistent provision.

What Is Working Well

Children's Voice and Meaningful Participation

A strong feature across a number of services was the meaningful involvement of children in shaping their experiences.

Inspectors observed:

• Children influencing daily and weekly play planning
• Suggestion boxes and consultation processes in place
• Children contributing to service charters and values
• Opportunities for children to share ideas and feedback
• Leaders actively seeking and responding to children's views

In higher-graded services, consultation was not tokenistic. Children's feedback influenced play spaces, resources, routines and aspects of service development. Their views were valued and visibly embedded in decision making.

Inspectors linked meaningful participation to children's sense of belonging, confidence and ownership of their environment.

Outdoor Experiences

Outdoor play was a strong feature in a number of services. Higher-graded services demonstrated:

• Effective use of outdoor and natural environments
• Opportunities for physical challenge and exploration
• Free-flow access to varied spaces
• Skilled staff interactions that deepened play and learning
• Where grades were lower, play was still valued, but opportunities were sometimes limited by environmental constraints, organisation or leadership oversight.

Recurring Areas for Improvement

Safer Recruitment and Induction

Inspectors identified areas for improvement in some services relating to:

• Inconsistent safer recruitment procedures
• Delays in PVG or SSSC processes
• Limited evidence of references being verified
• Informal or underdeveloped induction systems
• Lack of structured mentoring or supervision

Where recruitment systems were not sufficiently robust, this increased risk and required immediate action.

Higher-graded services demonstrated clear safer recruitment processes, structured induction pathways and ongoing supervision that supported staff accountability and confidence.

Monitoring of Risk

Inspectors highlighted the importance of effective systems to identify, monitor and respond to risk within services. Areas for improvement in some services included:

• Risk assessments not regularly reviewed or updated
• Environmental security measures requiring strengthening
• Limited oversight of incident and accident monitoring
• Inconsistent documentation relating to recruitment or safeguarding checks

Where risk monitoring processes were not sufficiently robust, this impacted compliance and safeguarding. Inspectors made clear links between effective leadership oversight and children's safety.

Higher-graded services demonstrated:

• Clear and regularly reviewed risk assessments for indoor and outdoor environments
• Daily safety checks and clear recording systems
• Structured monitoring of incidents, near misses and trends
• Defined leadership responsibility for safeguarding oversight
• Evidence that risks identified were acted upon promptly and reviewed

In these services, monitoring of risk was proactive rather than reactive. Leaders had clear oversight of systems and were able to evidence how risks were identified, managed and reduced.

What does Very Good Look Like?

Services graded Very Good consistently demonstrated:

• Children's voices clearly influencing decisions about play, routines and aspects of service development
• Strong outdoor and nature-based provision that supported independence, resilience and physical wellbeing
• Skilled staff interactions that enhanced and extended children's play experiences
• Robust safer recruitment procedures, with clear evidence of checks completed and recorded
• Structured induction processes that supported staff understanding of safeguarding responsibilities
• Clear leadership oversight of risk, including regularly reviewed risk assessments and incident monitoring
• Defined roles and accountability for safeguarding and compliance

In these services, leadership was proactive and visible. Systems for recruitment, induction and risk monitoring were embedded and consistently applied. This provided a secure foundation that enabled children to experience rich play opportunities and meaningful participation in a safe and well-led environment.

Remember, inspections are one way of measuring your service. While governance, compliance and leadership systems are key to sustaining safe provision, inspectors continue to recognise the importance of warm relationships and meaningful play experiences.

Make sure you consider the happiness of your children and families, the morale and development of your staff, and your own open and honest reflections on how your systems support high-quality care and play.