IntroductionRegister toa children'schildren’s homeshome: guidance for applicants
WhenHow and how to register with Ofsted ifand youapply want to openopen, manage, or managebe aassociated children'swith homea or secure children's home.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Due to the exceptionally high number of applications, it is taking us longer than usual to process new submissions. If you are applying to register, it is likely to be several months before you receive a decision.
To help avoid further delays, please ensure that you provide all required information both at the time of application and throughout the process.
This guideguidance explains whatthe apolicies children’s home is and whatregistration yourequirements mustOfsted douses if you intend to openassess one.
Youyour shouldapplication also read our main guide to registration,run whicha applies to all children’s socialhome. careIt servicesalso andoutlines ourwhat guidanceto onexpect recruitingafter staff.
Viewyour Ofsted’schildren’s registrationhome servicesis and forms.registered.
Updates to this page
-
Added a note to explain that there are significant delays in processing new registration applications due to an exceptionally high number of submissions.
Update history
2025-10-17 09:30
Children’s homes registration guidance updated.The guidance is now organised into 4 clear sections:Children’s home registration policyApply to register a children’s homeApply to be associated with a children’s homeResponsibilities of providers and managers in Ofsted-registered children’s homes
2025-08-01 11:45
Added a note to explain that there are significant delays in processing new registration applications due to an exceptionally high number of submissions.
2025-06-26 09:30
Added note to explain that there are significant delays to processing new registration applications due to an exceptionally high number of submissions.
2024-05-24 15:52
Removed the need for a financial reference, following a change in legislation.
2023-10-06 09:30
Updated the ‘Children’s homes that provide care and accommodation for adults’ section to include information about individual circumstances where it would be in the child’s best interest to live in a children’s home after their 18th birthday. We have also the updated the ‘Guidelines for judging if a home is meeting the ‘wholly or mainly’ definition’ section and added a new paragraph to the ‘Principles to apply where a young adult resides at a children’s home’ section.
2023-04-14 09:30
Clarification added to the location assessment about consulting with relevant local bodies and updated the unregistered section to clarify when we may undertake a criminal investigation. We have also removed guidance on indicators for supported accommodation that is now in our guidance for registering supported accommodation.
2023-01-05 16:10
Guidance on Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children removed in the interim whilst the Home Office and Department for Education review current position.
2022-09-08 09:30
Clarified the section ‘When you do not need to register’ and removed guidance on unregulated establishments as this content is currently under review.