Education Sector

Non-maintained Nurseries

A young boy in a red school jumper playing enthusiastically with a wooden toy train set in a colorful classroom.

Non-maintained nurseries

We celebrate the successes, highlight areas for improvement and focus on what’s important for learners in non-maintained nurseries.

Explore advice and tools created for those working in nursery settings.

More information about our work is available below.

Our approach

Inspection arrangements review

A child in a red school jumper concentrating while placing puzzle pieces at an outdoor table.

Ways to improve

Estyn are here to help you. Explore our vast wealth of cross-sector improvement resources.

Numeracy skills

Literacy Skills

Poverty and disadvantage

Featured Non-maintained Nurseries resources

All resources

Using children’s interests to create rich and engaging learning

Using observations purposefully to meet the needs of each child

Making effective use of grant funding to support learning and build strong relationships with families

Developing children’s schematic play through careful observations and purposeful use of the environment

The Child’s Voice: Mark Making and Pen Pals

Embedding British Sign Language to Support Communication and Inclusion

The way innovative leaders include committed practitioners and supportive parents in the children’s learning experiences.

Purposeful improvement processes and effective style of leadership which is having a positive impact on aspects of provision and well-being

Strong community links that effectively support children's social, emotional skills and wider experiences

Creating a rich and stimulating learning environment that stems from the children's observations and interests.

Inspection guidance resources

These handbooks are valuable resources to gain insights into the standards and methodologies employed during inspections.

How we inspect What we inspect Safeguarding

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Latest articles

Blog posts and news articles relating to the Non-maintained Nurseries sector.

All articles

Updated joint inspection framework for the non-maintained sector from September 2026

Estyn Annual Report: Clear direction, improving self-evaluation and support and tackling recruitment are key to future success in Wales’ education system

Estyn report highlights the significant contribution of early years providers in communities and the need for stronger support to address the impact of poverty on young children’s development

Estyn outlines sector challenges and successes in early insights report

Statement: The teaching of reading in Wales

Independent review of joint inspection arrangements with Estyn published

Language immersion remains a priority to support children learning Welsh

Inspection and report schedule

Latest inspection reports

See all inspection reports

Inspection schedule

No inspection schedule available