Register and report changes with Ofsted
Guidance for early years and childcare providers on when/if you need to register with Ofsted and/or report changes.
Registering with Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, or Ofsted, is a government department responsible for registering and inspecting early years and childcare settings for children aged 8 and under. They also investigate concerns and complaints about childcare providers and take enforcement action where necessary.
Ofsted regulates 4 types of childcare providers:
- Childminders
- Nannies who voluntarily register with Ofsted
- Childcare on domestic premises
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
The types of provider not required to register with Ofsted are detailed on GOV.UK. If you do not need to register, you can still choose to be on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, as long as you meet the requirements. These may include some holiday play schemes, out of school clubs and crèches.
Ofsted offer guidance on the type of provision and registration needed, such as outdoor provision or if you operate from multiple sites.
How to apply
Ofsted has 2 childcare registers:
- The Early Years Register - you must register on this if you care for children from birth to the 31 August following their 5th birthday
- The Childcare Register - a compulsory part covers children who are cared for from the ages of 5 to 8 - you can choose to register for the voluntary part if you want to provide care that is not covered by the compulsory part
Find out how to apply to register on GOV.UK.
Registration visit
Childcare providers will be required to undergo a registration visit by Ofsted. This visit assesses the suitability of the provision as well as your policies and procedures. For further information on the registration visit, refer to childminders and childcare providers: register with Ofsted guidance.
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted will visit following their inspection timeline cycles. For further Ofsted guidance about the inspection process once registered, refer to being inspected as a childminder of childcare provider.
Once your provision has been inspected, you will be able to find Ofsted reports published online.
Further Information
If you are registering as a childminder agency visit register as a childminder agency in England.
Ofsted have the following policies and guidance for their inspection outcomes and enforcement actions:
Reporting changes with Ofsted
Childcare providers must tell Ofsted about certain changes to their registration. Ofsted publish guidance for all providers and the steps to follow to tell them about the changes.
How to report changes
Ofsted are making it easier for you to tell them about changes to your registration. To help reduce the administrative burden on providers, Ofsted have removed the EY3 form (Report changes to registered people in a nursery or other daycare).
If there is a change in your setting, email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk from the email address connected to your Ofsted registration.
When contacting Ofsted, make sure to include:
- 'Report association changes' as the subject line
- unique reference number (URN)
- registered person's name and date of birth
- proposed change (if the registered person is joining or leaving the organisation)
- date the change(s) take effect
- role and any changes of the individual(s)
Ofsted will aim to respond in 5 working days and will let you know if they need any further information.
This applies to all childcare providers registered with Ofsted.
Changes to registered people
If you have changes to registered people in your nursery or other daycare setting, refer to the following Ofsted guidance:
Adding a setting to your registration
If you are adding a setting to your registration, refer to the following Ofsted guidance:
Changes to adults in the home for childminders
For childminders who have changes to adults in the home, refer to the following Ofsted guidance: