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Role of Regulatory Bodies
OFSTED.
(The Office for Standards in Education Service & Skills).

The fundamental role of the regulatory bodies is to ensure that children receive the best possible care in all settings a child attends away from their home.
All home-based childcare providers are required to register with the regulatory body of their country. In England this body is known as OFSTED (The Office for Standards in Education Service & Skills).
The regulations make sure that all home-based childcare providers follow the same structure of care, learning & development for children. This also applies to all other early years’ settings (play groups, nurseries, schools etc.).This structure is implemented to improve the quality & consistency of care in all early years settings.
OFSTED regulates child-minders in the following 4 ways:
Registration
This process covers checks on you and your premises together with all other adults (16yrs and over) who live or work on the premises where you intend to carry out your child-minding service.
Inspection:
OFSTED inspectors will carry out checks on your child-minding service periodically (approx. every 3 years, however newly registered minders usually have their first inspection only short period after registration). You will be issued with a report setting out their findings and any actions they feel you must take.
This report is made available to parents.


Investigation:
An Ofsted childcare inspector may carry out an investigation into your childcare provision to check that you are meeting all the national standards and requirements.
Enforcement:
If necessary, OFSTED can take action against you if the National Standards and other requirements are not met.

In summary OFSTED aims through regulation to:
- Protect children
- Ensure that childcare providers provide good outcomes for children
- Ensure that childcare providers meet the requirements of the EYFS & childcare register
- Promote high quality in...