Guidance and regulation

Statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 23 February 2024

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, also known as Sarah’s Law, lets those who care for young people find out if a person has a record for child sexual offences.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 3 April 2023

Applications for the 2024 programme have now closed.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 3 April 2023

You might need to create a new Government Gateway account if you have forgotten both your user ID and password.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 7 July 2020

What social care providers need to know when notifying Ofsted of a serious incident.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 26 October 2023

Tell Ofsted about a serious incident in a children’s home or secure children’s home.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 26 October 2023

Find out what information you will need to create and use a Government Gateway account so that you can use Ofsted's services.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 7 July 2020

Guidance on information sharing for people who provide safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 12 July 2023

Guidance for those providing residential children’s homes for vulnerable children.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 6 March 2015

You might need to apply to Ofsted and provide them with certain information if you are connected with a children's social care service.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 12 August 2021

Local authorities and regional adoption agencies can apply for therapeutic funding for eligible adoptive, special guardianship order and child arrangement order families.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 December 2023

Statutory guidance on the principles behind children’s social care, its purpose, factors enabling good practice and what it should achieve.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 27 February 2024

Guidance on how Ofsted inspects children's homes.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024

Apply to register a children’s home, adoption or fostering agency, residential family centre or residential holiday scheme.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 1 July 2021

Health declaration forms for childminders and people who work in childcare or children's social care.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 1 April 2024

Safeguarding guidance for providers of activities, after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school settings.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 19 September 2023

Apply to register a supported accommodation service.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 28 April 2023

Guidance to help practitioners identify the signs of child abuse and neglect and understand what action to take.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 26 March 2015

Guidance on the conduct of inspectors and Ofsted's expectations of providers during inspection or wider regulatory activity.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 19 January 2024

A guide for early years settings on the support system for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 5 September 2014