What is registered childcare?

When it comes to childcare, registered or approved means:

In England

  • a childminder registered with Ofsted in England
  • a childminder registered with an Ofsted-registered childminding agency 
  • a childminder caring for children aged 8 and above, who is registered on the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register
  • childcare on domestic premises (where four or more childminders or assistants work together to care for children at the home) registered with Ofsted
  • a nanny registered on the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register
  • a nursery or pre-school registered with Ofsted in England or CIW in Wales.

In Wales

  • a childminder registered with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
  • a nursery, playgroup, cylch meithrin or creche registered with CIW
  • an out of school or holiday club or open access play provision registered with CIW 
  • a nanny approved under CIW's Approval of Home Childcare Providers (Wales) Scheme 2021 (please note nannies are approved rather than registered in Wales)

Why choose registered childcare?

Financial help

If you use a registered childcare provider, there are several ways to access financial support to help pay for childcare. See what help is available.

Peace of mind

Registered childcare providers are inspected to ensure that they meet the requirements for safety, learning and development. Registration is intended to:

  • ensure good outcomes for children
  • promote high-quality provision of care and early education
  • provide reassurance for parents
  • ensure that childcare providers are meeting statutory requirements.

Registered childcare providers in England must:

  • have the right to work in the UK
  • be 18 or over and undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service, formerly known as a CRB) check
  • fill in a health declaration booklet
  • join the Early Years Register (for looking after children aged 5 and under)
  • join the Childcare Register (for looking after children aged 5 to 7)
  • follow the Early years foundation stage statutory frameworks and meet the statutory requirements for safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare.
  • meet the statutory requirements for paediatric first aid.

Registered childcare providers in Wales must:

  • have the right to work in the UK
  • be 18 or over and undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
  • fill in a health declaration booklet
  • apply to register with CIW
  • follow the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare, which sets out the regulations and standards for those caring for children up to the age of 12.
  • meet the standards for safeguarding procedures and first aid qualifications
  • have an understanding of the principles of the curriculum in Wales.

You can find a childcare provider’s latest inspection report to get a feel for their setting and what their strengths are:

 

Do all childcare providers need to be registered?

England

The majority do need to be registered. In England, a childcare provider must register if they look after children under 8 for more than two hours a day, although there are a few exceptions to this:

A childcare provider doesn’t have to register if they:

  • are related to the child
  • look after a friend’s child for free (or paid, but only for up to three hours per day)
  • only look after a child between 6pm and 2am (i.e. babysitting)
  • Provide home education or tutoring for children aged 3 and over in only one or two activities, such as maths and/or sports.

For more information about registration exemptions, read Ofsted’s Registration not required document.

The following providers are required to register in England:

  • Childminders
  • Nurseries
  • Pre-schools
  • Childcare on domestic premises
  • Childcare on non-domestic premises.

It isn’t compulsory for nannies to join the childcare register, but they can join the voluntary section of the Childcare Register. A childminder who cares for children over the age of 8 can also register on the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register in England.

For more detailed information, see the Early years and childcare registration handbook.

Registered schools offering childcare outside of school hours and on the school premises (for children aged 5 and above) can also count as registered childcare when it comes to Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit.

Wales

In Wales, childminders and daycare providers must register with CIW if they look after children under the age of 12 for more than two hours a day. There are a few exceptions to this:

A childcare provider doesn’t have to register if they:

  • are related to the child or are the child's foster parent
  • are employed as a nanny and work from the parent's home
  • look after a friend’s child for free (or paid, but only for up to two hours per day)
  • only look after a child between 6pm and 2am (i.e. babysitting)

The following providers are required to register in Wales

  • childminders
  • full day care, including day nurseries
  • out of school and holiday clubs
  • sessional day care, such as playgroups
  • crèches
  • open access play provision

Registration exceptions in Wales can be found here.

Nannies can be approved under CIW's Approval of Home Childcare Providers (Wales) Scheme 2021.