Children's social care: when and how to register with Ofsted
Guidance about types of children's social care provider and Ofsted's registration process.
Due to the exceptionally high number of applications, it is taking us longer than usual to process new submissions.
To help avoid further delays, please ensure that you provide all required information both at the time of application and throughout the process.
You must register with Ofsted to open, run or manage:
- an adoption support agency
- a children鈥檚 home or secure children鈥檚 home
- an independent fostering agency
- a residential family centre
- a residential holiday scheme for disabled children
- a voluntary adoption agency
Introductory guides
Guidance on different types of provider that must register with Ofsted. Please read this before making an application.
Registration guidance
How to apply
Updates to this page
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Added note to explain that there are significant delays to processing new registration applications due to an exceptionally high number of submissions.
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Residential family centre and residential holiday scheme for disabled children guidance updated to reflect June 2016 amendments to their inspection frameworks.
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First published.