What is registered childcare?
These are childcare services that are registered with Ofsted in England and inspected once every three years. To be registered, childcare needs to meet and maintain certain standards of quality and provide consistent care for children. If you are unsure whether the childcare that you use is registered, you can check this by asking to see your childcare provider’s registration certificate; each registered provider has one. Alternatively, you can contact Oftsed who hold details of all registered childcare. Ofsted can be contacted on 0845 640 4045. Details are also available on their website www.ofsted.gov.uk. A person ‘approved’ under the Childcare Approval Scheme to provide childcare in the child’s home or in other domestic premises also qualifies as eligible childcare up until the expiry of their current approval. (The Childcare Approval Scheme is in the process of being phased out and replaced by voluntary registration with Ofsted.) After this time they would need to be registered on
This is care that is registered with the Government’s education regulatory body Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills). Ofsted regulate and inspect services for children, young adults and learners of all ages in England. As part of their work they register and inspect those who provide childcare for children from birth to 18. In Wales childcare is inspected by the Care Standards Inspectorate.
