Ofsted registration

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If you are providing care for children under 8 years of age, and if the total care provided is for more than 2 days in any week and more than 5 days a year, you are legally required to register with Ofsted. Application packs explaining the process and containing all relevant forms are available for Sheffield based childcare facilities from Sheffield Children's Information Service (CIS) - telephone 0114 275 6699, e-mail info@sheffieldcis.f9.org.uk

Before you can be registered you will have to demonstrate to Ofsted that:

• you, and every other person looking after children on the premises where you provide day care, are suitable to care for children under the age of eight
• every person living or employed on the premises where you provide day care is suitable to be in regular contact with children under the age of eight
• the premises, including any equipment are suitable to be used for looking after children under the age of eight
• you comply with the National Standards, regulations and any conditions of registration imposed by Ofsted. Full details of the National Standards can be found on the Ofsted web site at www.ofsted.gov.uk or requested by calling their Registration Helpline on 0845 640 4040.

Ofsted will grant your registration subject to certain conditions. Conditions are restrictions to your registration such as the maximum number and ages of children that you care for. We discuss any conditions with you during the registration visit. If registration is granted, conditions are included on your certificate of registration. You must comply with conditions at all times.

There is a fee charged for registration. This is currently:

• 150 pounds for day care lasting for a continuous period of four hours or more in any day (annual renewal fee 120 pounds).
• 18 pounds for day care lasting for less than four hours in any day (annual renewal fee 14 pounds).

Other aspects to consider for the registration process include environmental health, fire safety, planning permission and building control. The Out of School Network or Sheffield City Council will be able to provide help and guidance with these requirements.

Ofsted aims to complete the registration process within 25 weeks of receiving an application. A number of stages in the process depend on information from other agencies and action that you need to take. For further details visit the Ofsted web site at www.ofsted.gov.uk, phone their Helpline on 0845 640 4040 or contact the Business Development Team at Sheffield Out of School Network on telephone 0114 249 4941, e-mail info@osn.org.uk.

Reproduced from material published by Ofsted, www.ofsted.gov.uk, Crown Copyright 2005