Each year since 1993/94 HMCI has identified providers that have shown outstanding performance in inspections during the year. This list (formerly entitled ‘Particularly successful schools’) brings together all the providers that have been identified in this way.
The range of providers included each year has increased with Ofsted's widening remit. Schools have been listed since 1993/94. From 2000/01, particularly successful colleges have been identified. From 2005/06, childminders and providers of childcare have been included, while social care providers have been recognised as outstanding providers since April 2007.
There are some providers that appear on the list two, three or four times. These will have more than one academic year noted after their name.
The most recent inspection reports for providers are available on the Ofsted website. If a provider's last inspection led to its inclusion in the list you can see the report by clicking on the provider's name in the list.
The local authority (LA) area shown for each provider is that in which the provider is currently located. Local government reorganisation may lead to providers in the list being associated with a different authority from the one at the time they were inspected.
Since 2001, when we took over the registration of childcare providers, our policy has always been that we do not hold any published information for providers who do not hold an active registration. In line with this policy and to maintain fairness to all providers, this has been applied to the changes arising from the implementation of the Childcare Act and following the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage in September 2008. This means that previously registered provision that is now exempt from registration will no longer form part of Ofsted's register and will therefore not be maintained on either Ofsted's database or website.
Where a higher education institution is included in the list, the listing refers to that section of the institution that provides further education. For example, a university might offer vocational courses at the further education level.