Guidance

Early years and childcare: Ofsted's enforcement policy

Ofsted's policy on how we regulate childcare providers explains what we may do if a provider is not following the regulations.

From:
Ofsted
Published
28 March 2019
Last updated
2030 JuneNovember 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Early years and childcare enforcement policy

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Summary of changes

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Details

This policy explains how we regulate childcare providers, including childminders, nannies, nurseries, childminder agencies and other types of childcare. It also sets out:

  • our powers under the law
  • what actions we can take if providers are not following the regulations
  • what we may do if we find out about unregistered provision
  • a list of the things registered providers need to tell us about

Use our Report a serious childcare incident service to report accident and incidents to Ofsted.

Published 28 March 2019
Last updated 2030 JuneNovember 2023 + show all updates

  1. See 'Summary of changes' document.

  2. See 'Summary of changes' document.

  3. Reviewed the content to make it more accessible and user-friendly (no change to our enforcement powers and general approach to regulation). Details in 'Summary of changes'.

  4. First published.