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Choosing childcare

Registration and inspection of childcare services

Ofsted is the legal body responsible for regulating and inspecting services for children, young adults and learners. This includes childcare settings, schools and colleges.  When Ofsted inspects childcare for children (aged from birth to 17 years) it is checking to make sure that your children are cared for by suitable people on safe premises.

From September 2008, there will be two different registers of people caring for children:

The Early Years Register is for those childcare providers caring for children aged from birth until they reach the end of the reception year in school.

The Ofsted Childcare Register is in two parts:

1. the compulsory part is for children from the start of compulsory school age to the age of 7;
2. the voluntary part is for children aged 8 and over and for childcare for children of any age that is not required to be registered (for example, a crèche operating for less than two hours per day).

Any childcare provider who is registered by Ofsted receives a registration number and this is the number you will need if you want to claim tax credits for using childcare.

Ofsted will also regularly inspect the childcare provision, usually unannounced, investigate breaches of regulations and take legal action in serious cases.

Registration

Before registering a provider, Ofsted carries out a series of checks, including a check against police records on the applicant and others who may have unsupervised contact with children.

The inspectors also visit applicants to check that the premises and equipment are suitable to be used for childcare and to be sure that applicants can meet the minimum standards set by the government for childcare.

Those who choose to register on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register must agree to meet a set of requirements about the people who have access to children, the premises where childcare is provided, and the provision of childcare.

Inspection

Ofsted inspects and writes a report about each registered childcare provision at least once every three years.  Your childcare provider should be willing to let you read their latest report.  It will tell you about the quality of the childcare service that you use: what it does well and what it needs to improve.  Inspection reports are published on Ofsted's website: OFSTED Reports|.

Investigation

Ofsted follows up any concerns that parents or professionals raise by checking that providers meet the national standards and/or the requirements of the Childcare Register. They decide whether they remain suitable for registration, or if they need to take any action to put matters right. Ofsted will not investigate complaints that parents might have about matters that are not covered by the national standards or the Childcare Register requirements, such as complaints about fees or other contractual arrangements with your childcare provider.

Enforcement

Ofsted takes enforcement action if childcare provision does not meet the national standards or the requirements of the Childcare Register.  This can range from issuing a legal notice setting out what the provider must do to put things right to cancelling registration where the quality of care is seriously inadequate.

How Ofsted takes account of your views

When Ofsted carries out inspections of registered childcare and early education it is interested in the views of parents.

It will want to know if your child is happy and settled, whether your childcare provider could do things better, how well your childcare provider involves you, consults you and keeps you informed about the care your child receives.

What if I have concerns I cannot share with my childcare provider?

It is important for you to develop a good relationship with your childcare provider to help your child's well-being, development and progress.  You can resolve most concerns by talking to your childcare provider.  However, if you have any concerns about your childcare provider that you cannot discuss with them, please let Ofsted know by calling 08456 404040.

Further information

You can contact the Families' Information Service for more information on the work of Ofsted or visit the website: Ofsted|.

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