Ofsted registration
Helping You Launch Children's Homes, Nurseries & Childminding Services with Confidence.
Setting up a children’s service? We guide you through Ofsted registration, ensuring your documents, policies, and preparation meet all requirements.
Start Strong with Expert Ofsted Guidance
Setting up a children’s residential home, nursery, or childminding business requires strict compliance with Ofsted regulations — and getting the registration process right is critical.
PolicyBase provides complete, step-by-step registration support to help you submit a compliant application, pass your interviews, and launch successfully.
Our Ofsted Registration package is tailored to your setting and includes:
- Full completion of your Ofsted online application
- Support preparing your Statement of Purpose
- Development of your Children’s Guide
- Drafting of all required policies and procedures (safeguarding, behaviour, missing child, etc.)
- Help registering your Responsible Individual and Registered Manager
- Pre-interview coaching for Ofsted’s “fit person” assessment
- Mock checks of location suitability and safety policies
- Guidance for data protection (ICO), insurance, and staff vetting
- Experienced in both Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and EYFS framework
- Policies written by former inspectors and registered managers
- Integration with CareSkill for mandatory training (e.g., safeguarding, paediatric first aid)
- Linked with Brandso Recruit for staff sourcing
- 360° support across compliance, recruitment, branding, and setup
Customised for SC1, SC2, SC3 or nursery-level applications
- Entrepreneurs starting a children’s residential care home
- Professionals setting up day nurseries or pre-schools
- Independent childminders
- Existing providers opening a new location
Be inspection-ready with confidence. Book your Mock Inspection & Compliance Check today and take the stress out of regulation.
FAQ – Ofsted registration
You must register with Ofsted if you're opening a children’s residential home, nursery, childminding service, or any provision offering regulated childcare or care to children under 18 in England.
The process typically takes 12–16 weeks, but timing can vary depending on:
- The quality of your documentation
- Availability for pre-registration visits
- Your readiness for the Responsible Individual and Registered Manager interviews
PolicyBase ensures your application is submitted correctly and guides you through the entire timeline.
You’ll need a full Statement of Purpose, Children’s Guide, complete policy set (safeguarding, behaviour, complaints, etc.), plus key leadership roles identified (RI, RM). We handle all of this for you.
Yes — Ofsted requires a property to be secured, inspected, and documented before registration can proceed. We’ll help you prepare the location for inspection readiness.
Yes — we offer a done-for-you registration service that includes application submission, policy writing, interview prep, and property compliance guidance.
It depends on the size and scope of your service, but typically lasts one to two days.
Absolutely. All findings remain confidential and are used only to support your service improvement.
“The process was intimidating, but PolicyBase guided us from concept to registration — and we passed first try!”
A. Kunda, Children’s Home Owner
Designer
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Great Offer For Customer
So Much to offer you
All-in-One Compliance
We combine registration, documentation, inspection prep, insurance, and training — all in one place.
Part of The Brandso Network
Work with an integrated family of expert teams across recruitment, training, branding, and business support.
Tailored To The Care Sector
Everything we offer is built specifically for care providers — from childminders to supported living agencies.