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Due to maintenance, some forms will be unavailable between 8:15am and 9am on Wednesday 19 March 2025. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Ofsted - Early Years
Information about Ofsted for early years and childcare providers.
Who are Ofsted?
Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people, and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages. Read more about Ofsted
Registering as a childminder or childcare provider
You must register with Ofsted if you want to be paid to look after children under 8 years old, for more than 2 hours a day in England. Read more about registering as a childminder or childcare provider.
Inspection guidance, handbook and frameworks
You can read documents relating to Ofsted's inspection of early years and childcare providers.
Finding an Ofsted inspection report
Search for an Ofsted inspection report.
Using the Ofsted logos
The Ofsted logos are protected under Crown Copyright. Logos can only be used by providers that are judged the relevant grade overall at their last inspection.
These Ofsted logo guidelines must be followed if you want to use them.
Follow Ofsted
Contact details
For information and advice, you can get in touch with the Ofsted Contact Centre:
- phone 0300 123 1231
- send an email to enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
- complete the online contact form
- write to Ofsted, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD
The Ofsted Contact Centre is open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.