Business guidance
Rules, requirements and how-tos for running your business — organised by topic, with industry-specific guidance on the sector pages.
Guidance for education & training
Show all guidanceBecoming an apprenticeship training provider
How to register as an apprenticeship training provider in England. Covers APAR registration, funding rules, Ofsted inspection, apprenticeship levy, and subcontracting requirements.
Healthcare & Social CareChildcare Funding Entitlements: A Guide for Providers
How government childcare funding works for providers, covering the universal and targeted 15-hour entitlements, the 30-hour working-parent entitlement from 9 months, Tax-Free Childcare, provider agreements with local authorities, and claiming processes.
Healthcare & Social CareChildcare Ofsted Compliance Checklist
Comprehensive compliance checklist for Ofsted-registered childcare providers covering registration, safeguarding, staffing, premises, records, and insurance.
Healthcare & Social CareComply with the EYFS Statutory Framework
How to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in your childcare setting. Covers safeguarding, staff ratios, qualifications, learning areas, assessment, and Ofsted inspection preparation.
Healthcare & Social CareFood Safety for Childcare Providers
Food safety and nutrition requirements for childcare settings, including food business registration, allergen management, HACCP systems, and Ofsted nutrition expectations.
Healthcare & Social CareInsurance for Childcare Businesses
Insurance requirements and options for childcare providers including public liability, employer's liability, professional indemnity, and vehicle insurance for outings.
Education & TrainingNannies and Au Pairs: Regulations and Employment
Legal requirements, Ofsted registration rules, and employment obligations for nannies and au pairs. Covers when registration is required, voluntary registration benefits, DBS checks, and visa requirements.
Healthcare & Social CareOutdoor Learning and Forest School in Early Years
Requirements for outdoor learning and forest school provision in early years settings, including risk assessment, insurance, qualifications, and health and safety compliance.
Healthcare & Social CarePremises and Fire Safety for Childcare Settings
Premises requirements and fire safety for childcare providers including EYFS space standards, fire risk assessment, fire drills, evacuation procedures, and daily safety checks.
Healthcare & Social CarePrepare for an Ofsted Inspection
How to prepare for an Ofsted inspection of your childcare setting. Covers what inspectors look for under Ofsted's renewed inspection framework, self-evaluation, evidence gathering, and how to handle the inspection day.
Healthcare & Social CareRecord-Keeping and Data Protection for Childcare Providers
Mandatory record-keeping requirements for childcare providers under EYFS, data protection obligations under UK GDPR, and how to handle complaints and significant events.
Healthcare & Social CareRegister Holiday Clubs and Out-of-School Care
Ofsted registration requirements for holiday clubs, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, and wraparound care. Covers when registration is required, exemptions, and compliance obligations.
Education & TrainingRun a school, training or instruction business
Education businesses register by what they teach and to whom. An independent school must be registered with the Department for Education before it operates. A higher education provider seeking student finance or degree-awarding powers registers with the Office for Students. Paid car driving instruction is restricted to the DVSA's ADI register, and apprenticeship training providers join the APAR register. Private tutors and most adult-education businesses need no education-specific licence — their duties are safeguarding, DBS and data protection.
Healthcare & Social CareSafeguarding and Child Protection for Childcare Providers
Creating and implementing safeguarding policies for childcare settings. Covers the designated safeguarding lead role, recognising abuse, reporting procedures, Prevent duty, and staff training requirements.
Healthcare & Social CareSafer Recruitment for Childcare Settings
Step-by-step safer recruitment for childcare providers including DBS enhanced checks, disqualification declarations, reference checking, interview techniques, and maintaining staff suitability records.
Healthcare & Social CareStart and Register a Childcare Business
Complete guide to registering and launching a childcare business in England, from Ofsted registration to EYFS compliance. Covers nurseries, preschools, and childminders.
Education & TrainingSupport Children with SEND in Early Years Settings
Legal requirements and practical guidance for identifying and supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in early years settings. Covers SENCO duties, graduated approach, and inclusion funding.
Healthcare & Social CareWhich education and childcare rules apply to your business
Education and childcare businesses are regulated by what they do and who they serve. Early years and out-of-school childcare register with Ofsted in England. Independent schools register with the Department for Education. Higher education providers register with the Office for Students. Driving instructors join the DVSA's ADI register (Great Britain-wide — Northern Ireland has the DVA's separate register). Domiciliary care and social work have their own regulators. Find your provider type below, then follow the route that matches.
General rules
Common requirements shown separately from guidance directly classified to this sector.
Check if you need to register for VAT
Find out if your business must register for VAT based on your taxable turnover. Covers the £90,000 threshold, what counts as taxable turnover, the rolling 12-month test, and when voluntary registration makes sense.
Business StructureMandatory registrations every business must complete
Step-by-step guide to the registrations every business must complete before trading, regardless of sector. Covers HMRC tax registration, ICO data protection fee, mandatory insurance, and pension auto-enrolment.
Premises & OperationsMeet your business waste duty of care
Understand your legal responsibilities when producing, storing, or disposing of business waste. Covers using registered waste carriers, completing waste transfer notes, and the stricter rules for hazardous waste.
Compliance & LegalPre-trading compliance checklist
A concise yes/no checklist to verify you have completed all mandatory pre-trading requirements, including business registration, tax, insurance, licences, premises approvals, and data protection.
Prefer step-by-step?
Guided journeys walk you through milestones like starting up or hiring, one task at a time.