Guidance

Introduction to children's homes

When and how to register with Ofsted if you want to open or manage a children's home or secure children's home.

From:
Ofsted
Published
12 April 2012
Last updated
8 September 2022 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Introduction to children’s homes

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Details

This guide explains what a children’s home is and what you must do if you intend to open one.

You should also read our main guide to registration, which applies to all children’s social care services and our guidance on recruiting staff.

View Ofsted’s registration services and forms.

Published 12 April 2012
Last updated 8 September 2022 + show all updates

  1. Clarified the section 'When you do not need to register' and removed guidance on unregulated establishments as this content is currently under review.

  2. Clarified our guidance about applications to manage more than one children’s home.

  3. Added link to guidance about applying to register a multi-building children's home.

  4. Clarified our guidance on one manager managing two homes.

  5. Revised guidance on applying to manage more than one children's home.

  6. Revised throughout for clarity.

  7. Minor updates to reflect a legislation change on exemptions from registration for 16 to 19 academies (p5), and to clarify existing guidance on unregulated and unregistered providers (p16).

  8. Updated this guidance to clarify that we do not register satellite children’s homes.

  9. Updated to make it clear when unregulated and unregistered services should register.

  10. Updated to bring in line with legislation changes in 2015.

  11. First published.