Ofsted Voluntary Register

The Ofsted voluntary register is in place to ensure that children and young people are cared for in a safe environment.  It allows providers who do not need to register to register by choice.  These include providers who:

  • provide care for children aged eight and over
  • provide care in out-of-school clubs, holiday clubs, playschemes, play-centres and open access play provision
  • offer activity-based care (i.e. sports, drama, language or arts clubs)
  • provide care in the child’s own home (these may be nannies and au pairs)

The benefits of registering on the voluntary register

If you are registered on the voluntary part of the childcare register, parents will know that you have met the basic standards in place to safeguard children and this will enable them to get help with the cost of childcare with your registration number, through claiming from Working Tax Credit and employer-supported schemes.

If you have become registered on the voluntary register, we will offer support and pass on your details to parents who approach us are looking for childcare. We produce and maintain a list of nannies and au-pairs in the borough and we can add your contact details to the list once you have joined.

What are the requirements for voluntary registration?

The care must be:

  • provided for at least two hours a day
  • joined up to the beginning or end of the school day such as a breakfast club or after school club
  • part of an arrangement whereby care is provided for a continuous period of at least two hours
  • all staff with unsupervised access to children must undergo a CRB check
  • staff, premises, equipment and care provision must be safe and suitable
  • at least one staff member who is caring for children must have an appropriate first aid certificate, and one member of staff must have had appropriate training covering the common core skills
  • must have public liability insurance

Costs of registration

The current cost to be on the voluntary register is £100 for childminders or people providing care in the child’s home, and £110 (plus costs of a CRB check) for other childcare on domestic or non-domestic premises. The registration will be subject to an annual fee and continued ability to meet the requirements. If you want to know more, please see Ofsted Volunteer Register [PDF] (file size 736Kb)

How do I register?

To be on the OFSTED voluntary register, you may do this by registering online. The process takes about 12 weeks and you will need to supply personal information, sign a declaration that you can meet the requirements and give evidence of a valid first aid certificate. The next stage would be to take the necessary documents, including a completed Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) application forms, to the post office for checking. A certificate of registration will be issued once all the checks are completed. For information, please visit http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/ or call 08456 404040.

Already registered?

If you are a nanny and you are registered on the OFSTED voluntary register and you would like to advertise through the Family Information Service, please e-mail fis@rbkc.gov.uk or call 0207 361 4319 for more details.