Select a link to access information from Ofsted

• Registration requirements - the requirements you will need to follow if you register with Ofsted to look after children.
  
  
• Become a registered early years or childcare provider in England
  This guidance came into effect on 1 January 2016. (Updated 16/8/21) It replaced the following:
• Early years and childcare providers: registration and suitability handbook
• How to register on the Childcare Register
• How to register on the Early Years Register
• Childcare Register requirements for childcare providers on non-domestic or domestic premises
• Childcare Register requirements for childminders and home childcarers
• Types of childcare that don’t need to register with Ofsted - Annex A
• Early Years Register: preparing for your registration visit
  
  

• Exemption notification form
  
  
• DBS checks for childminders and childcare workers
  
  

• Childcare:reporting children's accidents and injuries
  

• Report a serious childcare incident
  
  
• Guidance - People connected with Ofsted-registered childcare
  
  
• Early Years and Childcare Services - EY3 changes to individuals
  
  
• Early years qualification finder. Relevant qualifications for early years 
  
  
• Health declaration form - childcare registration form
  
  
• Childcare Providers: EYA approval to operate from non-domestic premises 
  
  
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for those providers who register with Ofsted.  This factsheet sets out Ofsted’s position on using existing Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks for providers who register with Ofsted.
  

  Early years and childcare registration handbook:
  Updated paragraphs 28 and 31: Ofsted strongly recommends signing up to the DBS Update service but this is no longer mandatory.
  
  

• Criminal record checks for childminders and childcare workers: How to get a DBS check if you want to look after children for a living: who needs a check, what it costs and how long it takes.
  
  
• Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - useful information for any prospective childcare applicant who has not been in the UK for any period of time in the last five years.

Useful documents

• Early Years Self-evaluation form (SEF) - a useful tool even if Ofsted will no longer require it. 
  
  
• Documents relating to Ofsted's inspection of early years and childcare providers:  Ofsted website
  
  
• Carrying out Childcare Register inspections - guidance from Ofsted
  
  
• Education inspection framework - valid from September 2019 - updated 27/9/21
  
  

• Ofsted EIF inspections and the EYFS - What schools and registered early years providers need to know about delivering the current and revised early years foundation stage (EYFS)

• Early years and childcare providers judged inadequate or not complying with requirements at inspection

• Ofsted is changing how it inspects school - updated 20/08/19
  
  
• Early Years inspection handbook - updated 1st September 2021
  
  
• Early years inspections: myths - Ofsted has produced this document to confirm the facts about our early years inspections and to dispel those myths that can sometimes result in unnecessary workloads for registered child carers. It should be read alongside the early years inspection handbook.
  
  
• Helping disavantaged young children: how good are local authorities and early years providers? Unknown children - destined for disadvantage?
  
  
• Poster for Parents for display in settings 
  
  
• Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills  - updated August 2021
  
  
• Early years compliance handbook. What Ofsted does when a childminder or childcare provider does not comply with regulations. (pages 15-21 clarify examples of when Ofsted should be notified and what they consider to be serious injuries)
  
  
• How to appeal: guidance for childcare providers. How a prospective or registered childcare provider can appeal if Ofsted plans to take steps that will affect their registration.
  
  
• How to object: guidance for childcare providers. How to object if Ofsted plans to take steps that will affect registration.
  
  
• Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (PDF)
  
  
• Every Child a Talker (PDF) - Guidance for Early Language Lead Practitioners.   Published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2008.