Ofsted is an abbreviation of the Office for Standards in Education. It employs more than 1,500 inspectors to monitor the educational performance of schools, plus centres of further education and skills provision.
Ofsted reports also assess childcare, adoption and fostering agencies, as well as early years and children’s social care services, to ensure they are suitable for children and potentially vulnerable young people.
Established in 1992, Ofsted is an independent, non-ministerial government department which reports directly to Parliament.