Ofsted has issued formal regulatory action against childcare provider Bright Horizons after identifying widespread safeguarding and welfare shortcomings across its nursery network following concerns first raised in September 2025.
The education watchdog said it launched an extensive review of the organisation’s operations after serious safeguarding issues emerged at one of its nurseries, prompting a broader assessment of standards across the company‘s 247 locations.
Hundreds of Nurseries Reviewed
Following a detailed risk assessment, Ofsted inspectors carried out inspections, site visits and meetings with senior management at 172 Bright Horizons nurseries.
The regulator said breaches of statutory safeguarding and welfare requirements were identified at 69 of those settings. Individual inspection findings have already been published through the usual reporting process for each affected nursery.
Welfare Requirements Notice Issued to Bright Horizons
As a result of the investigation, Ofsted has served Bright Horizons with a Welfare Requirements Notice (WRN), requiring the organisation to correct all identified safeguarding and welfare deficiencies by 1 August 2026.
The notice is aimed at driving improvements across the company’s management structure and strengthening oversight to ensure higher safeguarding standards throughout the nursery group.
Outcome Summaries Published for All 247 Settings
In addition to the formal notice, Ofsted has published an outcome summary on its website for every Bright Horizons nursery.
The regulator stressed that these summaries relate to organisational governance and management arrangements rather than indicating that every individual nursery has safeguarding concerns.
Parents have been advised to consult the latest inspection report or update for their child’s specific nursery to understand its individual performance.
Chief Inspector Reassures Families
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said the newly published outcome summaries clearly explain the improvements Bright Horizons must make and the deadline for completing them.
He emphasised that Ofsted would closely monitor the provider’s progress while reassuring parents that the majority of Bright Horizons nurseries continue to meet the required standards.
Oliver added that previously published inspection reports remain the most reliable source of information about individual nursery settings.
Additional Early Years Inspections Planned
Sir Martyn also welcomed recently announced government funding that will allow Ofsted to expand its oversight of the early years sector.
The additional resources will support thousands more unannounced inspections, strengthening efforts to ensure young children receive safe, high-quality care.
Regulator to Monitor Compliance
Ofsted said it will continue supervising Bright Horizons’ response to the Welfare Requirements Notice to ensure all required improvements are implemented within the specified timeframe.
Under the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012, a Welfare Requirements Notice is issued when a provider fails to comply with one or more safeguarding or welfare obligations.
The notice sets out mandatory actions that must be completed by a specified deadline or further regulatory measures may follow.
