Guidance
Registering and inspecting school-based provision
Guidance on registering and inspecting school-based early years and childcare provision with Ofsted.
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Guidance for when a maintained or independent school must register its early years or childcare provision with Ofsted.
Updates to this page
Published 3 August 2012
Last updated 10 September 2025
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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.
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Updated with additional text about an academy becoming a sponsored academy and an additional scenario for nursery schools.
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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.
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First published.