Regulator profile
Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Enforcement Regulator3 areas of regulation · 27 laws enforced · England
Quick links
Childcare
Education
Inspection
What Ofsted does
Inspects and regulates services providing education, training, and childcare in England. Inspects schools, colleges, initial teacher training, and children's social care. Registers and monitors childcare providers.
Additional information
Relevant for nurseries, childminders, training providers, and children's homes as a business.
Legal framework
Legislation that Ofsted directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Children Act 1989 Act 1989
- Education Act 1996 Act 1996
- Care Standards Act 2000 Act 2000
- Adoption and Children Act 2002 Act 2002
- Education Act 2002 Act 2002
- Children Act 2004 Act 2004
- Education Act 2005 Act 2005
- Childcare Act 2006 Act 2006
- Education and Inspections Act 2006 Act 2006
- ASCLA 2009 Act 2009
- Children and Families Act 2014 Act 2014
- Childcare Act 2016 Act 2016
- Children and Social Work Act 2017 Act 2017
- Technical and Further Education Act 2017 Act 2017
- Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 Act 2022
Secondary legislation
- Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 UK Statutory Instrument 2005
- Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development Requirements) Order 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
- Childcare (Early Years Register) Regulations 2008 UK Statutory Instrument 2008
- Childcare (General Childcare Register) Regulations 2008 UK Statutory Instrument 2008
- Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
- Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012 UK Statutory Instrument 2012
- Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 UK Statutory Instrument 2013
- Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 UK Statutory Instrument 2014
- Education (Provision of Full-Time Education for Excluded Pupils) (England) Regulations 2014 UK Statutory Instrument 2014
- Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 UK Statutory Instrument 2015
- ... and 2 more statutory instruments
Related legislation
Legislation connected to Ofsted's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Administered / monitored
-
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
UK Act of Parliament 2006 -
The National Curriculum (Exceptions for First, Second, Third and Fourth Key Stages) (England) Regulations 2013
UK Statutory Instrument 2013
Amendments / commencements
-
Education Act 2011
UK Act of Parliament 2011