What Information Do You Need for an Ofsted Registration Application?

1. Applicant and legal-entity information

• Legal name, status and registration details
• Addresses and contact information
• Directors, partners or individual applicant
• Ownership and governance
• Relevant declarations and suitability information
• Consistent information across forms and documents

2. Leadership and associated people

• Proposed manager or Registered Service Manager
• Responsible Individual where required
• Roles, authority and reporting lines
• Qualifications and relevant experience
• Required forms, checks and references
• Capacity and contingency arrangements

3. Service model

• Service type and regulatory framework
• People, age range or cohort supported
• Capacity, opening pattern and operating hours
• Needs, risks and intended outcomes
• Admissions or enrolment criteria
• Care, support or education model
• Activities or categories covered by registration

4. Premises and location

• Address and right to occupy
• Layout, facilities and accessibility
• Planning, building and fire considerations
• Safety certificates and insurance
• Local risks and resources
• Equipment and maintenance
• Readiness for any registration visit

5. Workforce and safeguarding

• Organisational structure and staffing numbers
• Safer recruitment and DBS arrangements
• Qualifications, induction and training
• Supervision and competence
• Safeguarding, allegations and whistleblowing
• Emergency, on-call and continuity cover

6. Policies, evidence and finances

• Statement of purpose or equivalent service information
• Service-specific policies and procedures
• Complaints and people’s rights
• Quality assurance and governance
• Business plan and financial viability where applicable
• Document owners, versions and approval dates

Before submission

Cross-check every form and attachment. Names, addresses, roles, capacity, cohort, premises and the service description must tell the same story.

• Use current forms
• Answer every required field
• Submit all required associated applications
• Check every attachment opens
• Keep the final submission set
• Record outstanding controlled actions
• Do not operate before registration where it is required