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Starting a nursery or other daycare and running the business

Find out how to register with Ofsted as a nursery or other daycare, and what you will need to tell us about.

This guidance is for those who are registered, or want to register, with Ofsted. For guidance on how to register with a childminder agency, or if you are already with an agency, contact the agency directly.

Start a nursery or other daycare business

You will need to apply to register as a daycare if you will be looking after children aged up to the 31 August following their fifth birthday in:

  • a location other than someone’s home
  • someone’s home, working with 3 or more people at the same time

You must register with Ofsted unless you plan to work with 3 or more people in someone’s home. In this case, you can choose to register either with Ofsted or with a childminder agency.

Certain other people involved in your daycare will also need to apply to Ofsted themselves as part of your application to register.

Running a nursery or other daycare

As a nursery or other daycare, you must report to Ofsted any significant events affecting your childcare within 14 days.

Being inspected

Requirements

If you are registered on the Early Years register, you must meet the early years foundation stage framework standards. If you are registered on the Childcare Register you must meet either or both of the voluntary or compulsory Childcare Register requirements, depending on your registration.

If you are registered on both registers, you will need to meet each set of requirements.

Changes to a nursery or other daycare

You must tell Ofsted about changes to those responsible for your daycare organisation.

If the childcare takes place in someone’s home, you must tell Ofsted about any changes to who is living or working there.

Anyone you have to tell us about must also apply to join your registration.

Making payments to Ofsted

You will need to maintain your Ofsted registration with an annual fee.

Published 12 October 2021