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Setting up

Ofsted registration

Compulsory registration
The Childcare Act 2006 introduced changes to the way childcare provision is regulated and inspected. The changes which came into force in September 2008 mean that if you are caring for children aged from birth to the 31st August following their fifth birthday you are legally obliged to register with Ofsted on the Early Years Register, and you must comply with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (available from www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/eyfs), and will be inspected under these criteria.

If you care for children from the 1st September following their fifth birthday, up to the age of eight you are also required to register on the Compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

Exemptions to compulsory registration
There are a few exceptions to compulsory registration, for example if your setting is a holiday club that operates for 14 days or less in a calendar year; or if you are running a club for a particular activity such as karate, piano or chess. Ofsted provides a full list of the exemptions to registration.

Voluntary registration
If you care for children aged eight to 18, you may also opt to register with the Voluntary part of the Childcare Register. The voluntary part of the Childcare Register covers:

"those who care for children for two or more hours in any one day; or for a period less than two hours where this includes care attached to a normal school day for schools to deliver extended services (care immediately before or after normal school hours)."[1]

For a comprehensive guide on who needs to register with Ofsted, download Ofsted's Guide to registration on the Early Years Register: childcare provider on domestic or non-domestic premises

Registration process
Having decided to open an Out of School Club you need to contact Ofsted fairly rapidly, as the registration process can take anything up to six months.

You can contact Ofsted by writing to:

Ofsted
Royal Exchange Buildings
St Ann's Square
Manchester M2 7LA

or by telephoning 0300 123 1231

You will also need to complete various forms in order for your registration to be processed. It is a good idea to start completing them as soon as possible. You can download the forms directly from the Ofsted website, but to save you time we have also collected them all here for you. The forms are:

Form EY0: Application form for the Early Years Register: Childcare provider on non-domestic or domestic premises (excluding childminding) Online and printable forms
Applicant checklist: Childcare provider on non-domestic or domestic premises Download checklist
(57k PDF file)
Form EY2: Declaration and consent forms for all individuals connected with a registered provision Online and printable forms
Form EY3: Notification to Ofsted Download form
(78k PDF file)
Health declaration booklet Download booklet
(262k PDF file)
Early Years Register: Preparing for your registration visit Download guide
(391k PDF file)
Paying fees Download guide
(34k PDF file)

For further information about registering with Ofsted, see the Ofsted website.

After your registration visit, Ofsted aims to inspect all new out of school providers within six months of opening, so it is important that you also complete the self evaluation form (SEF) within six months of opening. This form should be part of the inspection process, so it is essential that you complete it prior to your graded inspection. You can download it from the Ofsted website.

[1] Framework for the regulation of those on the Early Years and Childcare Registers Published November 2008

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