Dame Clare Tickell’s report on the rules governing the care of children from birth up to the age of five – the Early Years Foundation Stage  – recommended that they be radically slimmed down, simplified and made less burdensome.

According to a consultation published today, Ofsted intends to reduce the judgements and grades it hands out to providers. Instead, it will give greater prominence to children’s personal, social and emotional development and the progress they make in their learning.

The changes would also give those providing early years services more freedom to manage themselves, Ofsted says. For example, at present providers who want to increase the number of children they are registered to care for have to formally notify Ofsted of the changes. In future, they would be able to make any changes that comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage without notifying Ofsted.

Launching the consultation today, Regulation of providers on the Early Years Register today, Ofsted education and care director Jean Humphrys said the inspectorate was aiming to find the ‘right level of enforcement to ensure that children are safe and well cared for’.

She added: ‘The changes we are proposing provide a balance. They will reassure parents that our systems and processes for regulating early years and childcare providers are robust, preventing unsuitable people from having access to children, while simplifying inspection for those providing care.’

The consultation is running until April 6. It is intended that the new inspection criteria will be finalised to coincide with the publication of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage in September.