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Applications for the 2026 Step Up to Social Work programme are now closed.
Tell Ofsted about a serious incident in a children’s home or secure children’s home.
You might need to create a new Government Gateway account if you have forgotten both your user ID and password.
Find out what information you will need to create and use a Government Gateway account so that you can use Ofsted's services.
You might need to apply to Ofsted and provide them with certain information if you are connected with a children's social care service.
Guidance on how Ofsted inspects children's homes.
What social care providers need to know when notifying Ofsted of a serious incident.
Apply to register a children’s home, adoption or fostering agency, residential family centre or residential holiday scheme.
Health declaration forms for childminders and people who work in childcare or children's social care.
Statutory guidance on the principles behind children’s social care, its purpose, factors enabling good practice and what it should achieve.
Annex A form for children's homes and secure children's homes to fill in ahead of inspections under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).
How local authorities should report incidents to the Department for Education, Ofsted and Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
Reset your password on your Government Gateway account so you can access Ofsted services.
An overview of Ofsted's registration process for adoption agencies, fostering agencies, children’s homes, residential family centres and residential holiday schemes for disabled children.
Our expectations of inspectors and providers during inspection or wider regulatory activity.
Information for social care providers and managers on how to register with Ofsted and about the registration process.
What providers need to know about registering with Ofsted and running or closing a supported accommodation service.
When and how to register with Ofsted if you want to open or manage a children's home or secure children's home.
Tell Ofsted about a serious incident in a supported accommodation service.
You must tell Ofsted about changes to certain people in your organisation or to your premises.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
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