I remember the night before my first Ofsted inspection. I’d been childminding for years, I knew the children in my care inside out, and I’d spent weeks preparing. And I still couldn’t sleep. Not because I wasn’t ready – but because I didn’t know what ready looked like. This checklist is what I wish I’d had. It covers everything I did the night before and on the day of my inspection – the inspection that gave me an Outstanding rating on my very first try. Work through it methodically. Tick each box. Then close your folder, step away from your paperwork, and trust yourself. You already do most of this every single day. The inspection is simply your opportunity to show it.