Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They inspect and regulate schools, nurseries, and childcare providers across England. Their role is to make sure children are safe, well cared for, and given positive opportunities to learn and develop.

Smiles of Quorn is fully registered with Ofsted as a provider of childcare on non-domestic premises. We are listed on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Our setting operates from Rawlins Academy, Deep End, Loughborough Road, Quorn, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 8DY.

We first underwent a pre-registration inspection in 2019, when Ofsted confirmed that we met the standards required to open. Our first full inspection followed in November 2021, when we were awarded a “Met” judgement, which at that time was the highest possible outcome for an out-of-school club.

The inspector praised many aspects of our provision. Children were observed showing positive relationships with staff and were described as keen to greet them at the end of the school day. She recognised that children’s safety was given the highest importance, highlighting the team’s strong safeguarding knowledge and clear understanding of what to do if they had a concern about a child’s welfare. The report also noted that children felt valued and had a voice in how the club was run. They were seen to be happy and excited to play outdoors, and their good behaviour was supported by initiatives that celebrated achievements and promoted positive conduct. The inspector was impressed by the way we worked with school teachers, building on what children had been learning in class and extending this through play. She also praised the way staff deployed themselves effectively indoors and outdoors, ensuring strong levels of supervision and support. Finally, she recognised that we actively listened to children’s comments and used them to make changes, improving the experiences they had at the club.

Between 2019 and November 2025, Ofsted used a simplified system for out-of-school clubs. Providers could be judged as “Met,” meaning all requirements were met and the club was considered safe and well run. A judgement of “Not Met with Actions” meant improvements were required, and “Not Met with Enforcement” indicated serious failings. Smiles of Quorn achieved “Met” under this system, reassuring families that our provision was safe, welcoming, and of high quality.

From November 2025, Ofsted introduced a refreshed framework. The biggest change is that clubs no longer receive a single overall grade. Instead, inspectors now give a separate judgement for each evaluation area, using a five-point scale that runs from “Urgent Improvement” and “Needs Attention” through “Expected Standard” and “Strong Standard” to “Exceptional.” Safeguarding continues to be judged separately as either “Met” or “Not Met.”

For out-of-school clubs like ours, four evaluation areas are used:

• Leadership and governance – how well the club is managed, how staff are supported, and how effectively policies and procedures are followed.

• Inclusion – how the setting ensures all children, including those with additional needs or who may face barriers, are supported to take part fully.

• Attendance, behaviour, and routines – how children conduct themselves, how behaviour is promoted, and how routines help them feel settled and secure.

• Children’s welfare and well-being – how safe, cared for, and happy children are while attending the club.

Out-of-school providers are not judged on Curriculum and Teaching or Achievement because we provide childcare before and after the school day and during holidays, rather than formal education. Children receive their curriculum and achievement outcomes through their primary school education.

This new framework creates more of a report card than a single label, giving parents a clearer picture of where a club is strongest and where it may develop further. For example, a setting may be graded “Strong Standard” for welfare and well-being, but “Expected Standard” for leadership.

When Ofsted visit, their focus is always on what life is like for the child. They observe activities indoors and outdoors, speak with staff, children, parents, and sometimes teachers, and review how we keep children safe. They also look closely at leadership and policies, but the real emphasis is on children’s experiences — how safe, happy, and included they feel.

We welcome these changes, as they provide a more balanced and transparent picture of what we do well and where we can continue to grow. At Smiles of Quorn, our commitment remains the same: to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where every child feels valued, supported, and confident to learn through play.

You can read our most recent Ofsted inspection report, view our registration certificate, and explore Ofsted’s information for parents using the links below:

Read our Ofsted report.

Registration certificate.

Ofsted info for parents.

Our Ofsted profile

Contact Ofsted