This guidance explains when you may be eligible to expandadd new premises under your registeredchildcare settingsetting’s registration and when you need to apply to register a new, separate setting. You should read this guidance if you are thinking about getting new premises.

You may be able to apply forto anadd expansionnew premises to your setting’s registration if you are expanding your setting into new premises next to, or close to, your registeredexisting setting, and you intend to manageoperate them as one setting.

Wesetting willacross considerboth thepremises.

When followingyou whencan assessingadd whethernew the premises formto oneyour unifiedexisting setting.setting’s Eachregistration

You expansioncan willadd benew consideredpremises onto ayour case-by-casesetting’s basis,registration soonly youif shouldwe provideagree usto withit asin much information as possible.advance. 

When expansion applies

We will consider thethis addition of new premises to be an expansion of your existing setting if:

• the same manager oversees both premises
• the manager can effectively monitor and supervise staff performance across both premises effectively
• the expansion does not compromise the manager’s and staff’s ability to meet the children’s needs and supervise them effectively and safely
• both premises operate under the same management structure and policies
• the premises are connected or close to each other with no barriers (for example, busy roads or large public spaces) or distances between them that would limit staff moving quickly from one to the other

We will also consider any other relevant information about how you will operate when making our decision.

When you will need a separate registration

You will need a separate registration whenif youthe plannew topremises operate theindependently, newor premisesif they cannot feasibly or safely be operated as anpart independentof a single setting. IndicatorsThis include:is the case when:

• when there are separate managers and/or management structures
• when it is not possible for the manager to have good oversight of both premises and a separate management structure is required (for example, due to the distance between premises or because of a significant increase in children)
• when the premises operate independently under a different governance structure, for example as a separate company or committee
• when the premises are run differently, with separate policies or practices being applied at each location
• barriers or distances between the premises may prevent staff from moving quickly between them

ContactMaking usyour aboutapplication anfor expansion

IfYou youcan areapply consideringwhen acquiringthe new premises andare believefully theyprepared mayand meetready theto expansionoperate. criteria,We you will neednot be able to contactconsider usyour soapplication weif canthe assesspremises yourare case.not ready.

PleaseTo apply, please email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk from your registered email and provide the following information:following:

• confirmation that your premises are ready
• details of your current setting, including the address and unique reference number (URN)(URN)
• information about the proposed new premises, including the address and management arrangements
• plans to manage staff, children and operations across both premises
• information about any distance and obstacles between the premises and how you intend to overcome these
• why you believe the premises are suitable to provide childcare from
• any additional information that may be relevant to support our assessment

We will consider each expansion on a case-by-case basis, so you should provide us with as much relevant information as possible.

Next steps

We will review the information provided to determine ifwhether the premises meet the expansion criteria.

We will letmake you know the outcomefinal ofdecision ourabout assessmentwhether aswe soonview this as possible.one setting. Depending on the outcomeoutcome, of the assessment, we will then either:

• consider approving the premises as part of your existing registration
• ask you to submit an application to register a new, separate setting

The premises and the childcare arrangements must both be suitable before we can grantapprove approval.your application.