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Registering with Ofsted
Most settings for pre-school children must register on the Early Years Register. If the setting also cares for children from five to eight years old, as part of an out-of-school or holiday club for example, it must also register with Ofsted on the Childcare Register. There are some exemptions from Ofsted registration for temporary or informal childcare arrangements.
As a registered provision, you must give details of the ‘registered person’ who has overall responsibility for the childcare and early education service you provide.
Who is the registered person?
You can register with Ofsted as an individual (for example, in the case of a childminder or sole trader) or as an organisation (for example, if the setting is run by a committee, or the directors of a company). If you’re applying as an organisation, then you’ll still be known as the ‘registered person’.
The registered person is responsible for ensuring that there are suitable people working at the setting, and that the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage are met.
Who can be the nominated person?
When the registered person is a group of people, they share responsibility for the childcare provision. However, the group must appoint a ‘nominated person’ when they apply for registration, who must be a member of the organisation’s governing body, i.e. a trustee (committee member), partner, director or someone in a comparable position. This person represents the childcare provision as the main contact with Ofsted.
What does an Ofsted inspection involve?
Ofsted inspects childcare services at least every four years to see in practice what it is like for a child to attend the setting. Ofsted grades the service as either outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. If you are a new setting or have re-registered with Ofsted because of a change of premises or status, your first inspection will take place within 30 months of registration.
Ofsted normally phones settings around midday the day before an inspection, so that the inspector can see the setting as it really is, and to reduce the stress of anticipating an inspection. Childminders and group providers who do not operate regularly are usually contacted no more than five days before the inspection to check which days the setting is operating and whether children will be present.
As a rough guide, inspections take around three hours for childminders, while for group provision, the inspector will normally be on site for at least six hours. The inspector will judge the setting based on its overall effectiveness; the effectiveness of leadership and management; the quality of teaching, learning and assessment; the children’s personal development, behaviour and welfare; and the outcomes for children.
After the inspection, a report is made publicly available on the Ofsted website. You are expected to reflect on Ofsted’s findings and share them with parents and carers.
