Register a children’s social care service (SC1)
Apply to register a children’s home, adoption or fostering agency, residential family centre, residential holiday scheme or supported accommodation service.
Applies to England
Before you apply to register, read the relevant guidance for your service type to ensure you understand the requirements and process:
Who can register
You can register as an individual provider, organisation or partnership.
If you hold a governance or management role in a children’s social care service, for example, as a manager, responsible individual or director, you may need to complete the Apply to be associated with a children’s social care service (SC2) form.
Check the policy document for your provider type from the list above to find out whether this applies to you.
Before you apply
Gather everything you need before you start. You can save your progress and come back to it later if you don’t have all the information.
If you are applying to register a residential holiday scheme for disabled children, do not use this form.
Contact us at sc.admin@ofsted.gov.uk instead.
Due to the exceptionally high number of applications, it is taking us longer than usual to process new submissions. If you are applying to register, it is likely to be several months before you receive a decision.
To help avoid further delays, please ensure that you provide all required information both at the time of application and throughout the process.
Fees
You must pay a fee to register.
Once you are registered, you must pay the same fee annually.
What happens next
You will receive a submission reference number by email, confirming that your application has been accepted.
We will contact you if we have any questions about your application.
Contact us
If you need help with the form, call 0300 123 1231 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.
If you need an accessible version, you can email us at sc.admin@ofsted.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
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Added a note to explain that there are significant delays in processing new registration applications due to an exceptionally high number of submissions.
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Removed the need for a financial reference, following a change in legislation.
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Out of date PDF form removed. If you wish to register a residential holiday scheme for disabled children, you must follow the instructions to contact Ofsted.
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First published.