Ofsted: explore an area

Find schools, childcare and local context in areas important to you

You can use this tool to:

  • search for state-funded schools and registered childcare providers near you
  • search by postcode or local authority to explore schools and education provision near you
  • find contextual information about your local authority or local area
  • create your own list of schools and childcare providers of interest

For map view, search by
Hint: Start typing, then select from the drop-down list. The list appears after you enter three characters.

I want to see
Hint: Start typing, then select from the drop-down list. The list appears after you enter three characters.

Also, I want to see
Hint: Start typing, then select from the drop-down list. The list appears after you enter three characters.

Or

Search for local authority or area data
Hint: Start typing, then select from the drop-down list. The list appears after you enter three characters.

Hint: Start typing, then select from the drop-down list. The list appears after you enter three characters.

A PE teacher kneels on a blue gym mat helping young children practice balancing on one leg in a school hall.

Quality education

Find Ofsted-rated schools and childcare providers near you.

A teacher talks with secondary school pupils in white uniforms gathered around a lab table during a science lesson.

Local context

Explore schools and education provision in your local area.

A teacher stands at the front of a classroom presenting a video on an interactive whiteboard to pupils in burgundy school uniforms seated at desks.

Informed choices

Browse providers and narrow down your top choices.

About this school and childcare finder

Use this service if you are moving house or area, choosing new childcare, or looking at education options for your child. This service helps you find Ofsted registered childcare providers and schools across England. You can search in your local area or any other area in England.

Ofsted inspects services providing education and skills for learners of all ages. Ofsted also inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people.

Six young children of diverse backgrounds lying in a circle on a blue mat with their heads together, smiling up at the camera.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a school's Ofsted report card?

Search for the school by name or postcode, then click on it to see its inspection outcomes and the link to its full Ofsted report.

The school’s grades appear in map pop-ups, in list view and in your saved ‘My List’.

How do I find childcare near me?

Enter your postcode, select ‘Childcare’ from the advanced options underneath the search bar, and click ‘Search’. You'll see pins for Ofsted-registered nurseries, pre-schools and out-of-school care on an interactive map

The map has filters for distance, type of childcare and inspection grades. There is also a data layer. When you click this, it will show you the total numbers for all childcare types, including childminders.

Why can't I see information about childminders on the map?

You can search for childminder availability on the map. However, we group the number of childminders by area to avoid disclosing private addresses. Our official statistics methodology provides further information about our approach to disclosing childcare locations.

To view data about childminders on the map, go to ‘Provider count layers’ and then toggle ‘All childcare providers’ and the button below this labelled ‘Apply selected options to your search’.

Click on an area in the map, and a pop-up information tab will show you the childcare available in the area, including childminders.

We are planning to develop this functionality further to allow users to view information about childminders more easily. For the initial release, we have focused on providing data to support inspections. However, we will be working with parents and providers to improve the service for all users.

How do I compare schools in my area?

On the pop-up information tab, use the ‘Add to my list’ button to save up to 5 schools you want to compare.

You can then view all your saved schools side by side on your ‘My List’ page. You'll find each school’s inspection dates, grades and provider details for easy comparison.

How can I find faith schools or SEND provision?

Use the map filters to search by faith designation (‘Christian’, ‘Jewish’, ‘Muslim’, ‘non-faith’), special schools, alternative provision and more. You can combine filters and adjust the distance for precise results. The ability to filter by type of SEND provision is coming soon. Check our announcements page for updates.