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: 22 October 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

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.

• Last updated: 22 October 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 22 October 2026

     Guidance updated to clarify the registration of wraparound provision operating on school sites. Annex updated to align terminology with the renewed education inspection framework, and replace a hyperlink.

  2. 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.

  3. 3 February 2017

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

  4. 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.

  5. 3 August 2012

     First published.