Guidance

Registering and inspecting school-based provision

Guidance on registering and inspecting school-based early years and childcare provision with Ofsted.

• From: Ofsted
• Published: 3 August 2012
• Last updated: 10 September 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 10 September 2025

     Guidance updated to clarify definitions and provide up-to-date examples to help schools understand whether any of their early years or childcare provision may be exempt from registration with Ofsted.

  2. 3 February 2017

     Updated with additional text about an academy becoming a sponsored academy and an additional scenario for nursery schools.

  3. 25 February 2016

     Revised version including: details of the legislative framework; and exemption from registration where the school's governing body manages the provision for two-year-olds.

  4. 3 August 2012

     First published.

Documents

Registering and inspecting school-based provision

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Guidance for when a maintained or independent school must register its early years or childcare provision with Ofsted.