Registering to become a childcare provider
New providers are a great addition to the local childcare market and if you are starting an early years business there is a lot to think about. Businesses offering childcare must register with Ofsted or a childminding agency, except in a small number of circumstances.
Childminder Agencies (CMAs) register childminders and providers of childcare on domestic premises (a group of 4 or more childminders) and help them with training, business support, advice and finding parents. To register with a childminder agency, contact them directly.
Use the table below to find out what type of Ofsted registered childcare provision you want to offer:
| Type of childcare I want to provide | Type of childcare provider I should be |
|---|---|
| Taking care of children in your own home with up to two other people | Childminder |
| Working with three or more other adults in someone’s home to care for children | Childcare on domestic premises |
| Caring for children of up to two families at the same time in their homes | Nanny or home childcarer |
| Setting up a nursery or pre-school | Early years provision |
| Setting up an out of school club or holiday play scheme | Out of school provision |
The Ofsted registers
There are two Ofsted registers: the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register.
Early Years Register
You should join this register if you’re caring for children aged from birth to 31 August after their fifth birthday.
You will need to meet all the safeguarding and welfare and the learning and development requirements of the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (Gov.uk).
Childcare Register
The Childcare Register has two parts:
- Compulsory – for providers caring for children from 1 September after the child’s fifth birthday up until their eighth birthday
- Voluntary – join this if you are looking after children aged eight and over, or if you are choosing to register voluntarily (for example, if you’re a nanny)
Once you have joined the Childcare Register, you must meet the register requirements (Gov.uk).
Decide which register to join
| Type of childcare | Type of register |
|---|---|
| Looking after children from birth to 31 August after their fifth birthday | Early Years Register |
| Looking after children from 1 September after their fifth birthday up to their eighth birthday | Compulsory part of the Childcare Register |
| Looking after children aged eight and over | Voluntary part of the Childcare Register |
| Looking after children as a nanny | Voluntary part of the Childcare Register |
| Any other childcare when you don’t have to register with Ofsted (Gov.uk) | Voluntary part of the Childcare Register |
You must register on the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register to look after children of all ages.
If you need to register with Ofsted as a childminder, nanny, nursery or person providing other childcare, this Ofsted guidance highlights the process, fees and requirements.
Childminders work from domestic premises mostly their own homes, caring for children of all ages. Domestic premises means somewhere that’s used entirely or mainly as a private home. Most childminders offer a full menu of services including full day childcare for pre-school aged children, before and after school sessions and school holiday care.
Registering with Ofsted
You must register with Ofsted as a childminder if you intend to care for children:
- that you are not related to
- for more than 2 hours a day
- for pay or gain
- on domestic premises (normally your home)
- that are under 8 years of age
How to register if you want to look after children at home, including what you need to do before you apply, fees, and working elsewhere.
Help and support we offer
If you want to register on the Early Years Register, you can apply for an information pack which will provide advice and guidance on how to register with Ofsted, business planning and how to provide high quality childcare.
This is aimed at anyone considering registering as a childminder on both the Ofsted Early Years Register and Childcare Register to care for children of any age in their own home.
By registering your interest, you will receive an email with an information pack.
If you want to register on the Childcare Register only you can email [email protected] to request a Childcare Register information pack.
Childcare on domestic premises is where 4 or more people come together to work in a home-based setting at any one time. Domestic premises means somewhere that’s used entirely or mainly as a private home. You can have 4 or more people who could be childminders or any mix of childminders and childminding assistants.
Registering with Ofsted
You cannot work as a childminder and offer childcare on domestic premises under the same registration. If you want to work part of your time as a childminder, and part as childcare on domestic premises, you need to register separately for each. You will need to pay two fees and have separate inspections.
You can find out more information about registering as Childcare on domestic premises at Childminders and childcare providers: register with Ofsted (Gov.uk).
Help and support we offer
If you want to register as a childcarer on domestic premises you can email [email protected] to request an information pack. This will provide advice and guidance on how to register with Ofsted, business planning and how to provide high quality childcare.
A nanny and au pairs (home childcarers) work in the home of the child they are caring for. They can be responsible for all aspects of childcare but can only work for up to 2 sets of parents at the home of one of the families. If more than 2 families use the care at the same time, it is classed as childminding and you will need to register as a childminder.
Registering with Ofsted
Nannies don’t have to be registered or inspected by Ofsted. However, there is a voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register where you can register as a nanny. This will help you show parents your commitment to the highest standards of care.
Before you are registered with Ofsted, you will need to:
- have a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- complete a 12 hour paediatric first aid course
and have either one of the following:
- a level 2 qualification relevant to childcare
- training in the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge
You can find out more information about becoming a nanny at Childminders and childcare providers: register as a nanny with Ofsted (Gov.uk).
Childcare on non-domestic premises is the term Ofsted use for early years group provision such as nurseries and pre-schools. This type of provision runs in / on:
- purpose-built premises
- village halls
- school premises
- woodlands
Registering with Ofsted
Early years providers caring for children from birth up to the 31 August after their fifth birthday must register on the Early Years Register unless they are exempt.
Find out more information about registering as childcare on non-domestic premises.
Help and support we offer
You can apply for an Information pack which will provide advice and guidance on how to register with Ofsted, business planning and how to provide high quality childcare.
A charity is an organisation which has been set up exclusively for charitable purposes and for the benefit of the public or a particular section of the public. Charity childcare provision is established for the purpose of providing care and education to meet the individual needs of children during those early years, giving them the necessary support and encouragement to achieve their full potential. The public benefit in this case would be to the children and families receiving the services.
The Charities Act provide the legal framework for charities; including requirements relating to the governance, activities, how they use their assets and how they are regulated. The Charity Commission is the body that regulates charities and oversee their work. The members of the charity should follow the Charity Commission guidance, and seek advice as necessary, to ensure they understand how a charity must work to these requirements.
Charities are governed by a group of committed people who volunteer to run the organisation - they are known as trustees or committee members. The charity trustee’s / committee members cannot generally receive any payment or wage for their work, other than reasonable reimbursement for reasonable expenses however, they can employ and manage staff to carry out the day to day activities of the charity, for example, a manager to run the childcare provision and staff to look after and teach the children. As charities are ‘not for profit’ organisations, any money received must be re-invested back into the organisation to help it achieve its purpose.
The trustee’s/committee members are in charge of the charity, collectively they are responsible legally and financially for the group. It is important that all trustee’s/committee members are aware of their role and responsibilities. The childcare staff also need to be aware of the role of the committee, as this will help develop good working relationships within the setting and ensure the Early years foundation stage (EYFS) legal requirements are met.
The committee has the power to create and adapt business aims and objectives for the setting, and to make policy decisions designed to assist with achieving these. If the aims and objectives have already been established, then each committee member must know and understand them.
The committee are the registered provider for the setting for Ofsted. The committee have to choose a nominated individual who will be interviewed by Ofsted to ensure they know their responsibilities under the EYFS. This includes knowledge of Section 3 - The safeguarding and welfare requirements, safer recruitment, supervision, staff training and development.
You must apply to Ofsted if you want to take up a governance position. You will each have to Apply to join a nursery or other daycare organisation (EY2) (Gov.uk) and complete an Early years and childcare services: EY3 changes to individuals (Gov.uk) digital form.
If you are a new trustee/committee member or a nominated individual, you are required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check online before you can be added to an Ofsted registration.
The EYFS outlines the employers’ duties to ensure that all staff and volunteers employed are suitable and qualified to work in the setting. The committee should follow safer recruitment practices and obtain satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS) for all candidates before employing them.
Toolkit
We have produced a useful toolkit to support charitable run childcare this includes guidance on the roles and responsibilities for charitable committee run childcare, a handy checklist of steps to take when there is a change of committee and an audit to ensure you are meeting your committee responsibilities. This toolkit is available by request please email [email protected].
Out of school clubs provide care and play for children outside of their education and take part on non-domestic premises.
Registering with Ofsted
Although there are a few exceptions, most out of school clubs which provide childcare will need to be registered with Ofsted as childcare on non-domestic premises.
If the club is run directly by a school (i.e. the club's staff are employed by the school governors) and at least one child from the school attends the club, in most cases it will come under the school's own Ofsted registration and does not need to register separately.
However the school managed provision does need to meet the same requirements as any other provision on the early years or the childcare registers.
Find out more information about registering as an out of school provision as childcare on non-domestic premises.
Help and support we offer
You can apply for an information pack which will provide advice and guidance on how to register with Ofsted, business planning and how to provide high quality childcare.
Last updated 11 December 2023