How we register

The Early Years Register

We ask prospective childminders (looking after children in the early years age group) to attend a briefing session with their local authority before making their application, so they are fully briefed about the role. Local authorities may also provide briefing for prospective providers of care on domestic and non-domestic premises. We ask all applicants to pay an application fee, and complete their form very carefully so that no time is lost in processing their request.

Start of the process

Once we receive a fully completed application and fee, the registration process begins. We aim to complete the process within 12 weeks for childminder applicants, and 25 weeks for applicants to provide childcare on domestic and non-domestic premises. During this time, we arrange a registration visit to look at the premises and an interview by one of our inspectors. We carry out a number of checks, including with the Criminal Records Bureau, on everyone associated with an application such as the applicant, the manager who has responsibility for the day-to-day responsibility for the childcare provision or those who live and work on the premises where the applicant proposes to provide childminding.

This is all fully explained in the guides to registration and the pre-registration briefings.

 

After the visit

After the registration visit, we may ask applicants to complete certain actions to ensure they can meet the requirements set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Once these and our checks are complete, we will make a registration decision.

Granting registration

When we grant registration, we issue a registration certificate which we ask providers to display when they are providing childcare so that parents can read it. The certificate sets out the conditions of registration. Conditions restrict or provide permission for the registration to operate in a particular way, such as limiting the number of children a provider may care for or allowing overnight care. We can add new conditions, change existing ones or remove conditions at any time during your registration. A provider may not begin caring for children until they receive their certificate.

Refusing registration

Sometimes we refuse registration. In these cases, we follow a process which allows the applicant to object to and appeal against our decision to an external body, the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber.

After registration

After a childcare provider is registered, we will follow up with a first inspection within seven months of starting to care for children. Regular inspection of the quality of care follow this first inspection at least once in every three to four year period, and in some cases more often.

 

The Childcare Register

Registration on the Childcare Register relies on the applicant making a declaration to confirm that they will meet the requirements of registration. Ofsted carries out a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check on the applicant but does not normally carry out any other checks.

We do not usually interview applicants for the Childcare Register to assess suitability, as we do for the Early Years Register. If the applicant has lived abroad in the last five years we may require a Certificate of Good Conduct from the relevant country before we grant registration.

The process

Once we have received the application and fee we carry out a CRB check on the applicant and the others connected with the application. We will register the applicant if:

  • the applicant confirms that they meet the relevant requirements, and
  • we find the applicant and other people associated with the application suitable to work or be in contact with children.

Otherwise we refuse registration. The process takes about 12 weeks, and may take longer if we have to obtain information from abroad. It can take less time if we already hold checks from the Criminal Records Bureau on some or all of the people connected with the application. This is all fully explained in the guide to registration below.

Guide to registration on the Childcare Register

Granting registration

When we grant registration we issue a registration certificate which we ask providers to display when they are providing childcare so that parents can read it, unless they are a home childcarer. Sometimes we might include conditions of registration on the certificate. Conditions restrict or provide permission for the registration to operate in a particular way such as limiting the number of children a provider may care for or allowing overnight care. We can add new conditions, change existing ones or remove conditions at any time during your registration. A provider may not begin caring for children, where compulsory registration is required, until they receive their certificate.

Refusing registration

Sometimes we refuse registration. In these cases, we follow a process which allows the applicant to object to and appeal against our decision to an external body, the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber.

Inspections

We will not carry out an inspection before we grant an application for registration. However, once registered, we may inspect the provider at any time while their registration is current. We carry out random inspections and will always inspect if we receive a complaint that a provider is not meeting the requirements or conditions of registration.