Nurseries face closure as Ofsted gets tough: New rules mean all pre-schools will have to be rated 'good' or 'outstanding' Thousands of nurseries and pre-schools face being closed down Those deemed 'satisfactory' will be categorised as 'requiring improvement' Thousands of nurseries and pre-schools face being closed down amid a major toughening up of inspections. Ofsted is introducing a new early years framework from today which requires all nurseries to be "good" or "outstanding." Under the shake-up, nurseries which were until now deemed "satisfactory" will be recategorised as "requiring improvement." Ofsted is introducing a new early years framework which requires all nurseries to be 'good' or 'outstanding' The reforms - in line with those already brought in for schools and colleges - come amid concerns tens of thousands of youngsters are being let down by childcare that fails to prepare them adequately for compulsory schooling. A rating of "good" will now become the new minimum standard required. All "inadequate" settings will be re-inspected after six months instead of the current 12. If an "inadequate" provider fails to improve sufficiently and is found "inadequate" again, Ofsted says it "may take steps to cancel that setting's registration." Nurseries and pre-schools labelled "requires improvement" will be monitored within six months and re-inspected by 12 months. They will have two years to get to good otherwise they face the prospect of being judged inadequate. Ofsted has not yet published its consultation proposals for early re-inspection of childminders. This is because the Government is currently considering new initiatives including the setting up of childminder agencies. Since last September, inspection of early years providers has become more focused on children's education and their personal and emotional development. Of the 23,475 early years centres inspected by June 30 this year, 17 per cent (3,882) were judged satisfactory and 1 per cent (344) inadequate. This represented 157,778 childcare places in total. A rating of 'good' will now become the new minimum standard required by nurseries, under the new rules Ofsted yesterday said the new standards makes it clear "that anything less than good is not good enough for young children." Sue Gregory, Ofsted director of early years, added: "Young children deserve the very best start in life and inspection can be a catalyst for improvement. Very many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders provide a good or better service, but we want to help others to become good through our inspections. Liz Bayram, chief executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, welcomed the overhaul. She said: "The new "requires improvement" grading, so long as it is underpinned by robust Ofsted inspection processes, will mean parents better understand what good quality care looks like for their children and will encourage more providers to improve.