Sector
Education & Training
Schools, universities, training providers, EdTech and educational services.
Start here
Get ready for Ofsted report cards
Report cards replace single-word judgements — for schools and training providers, not just childcare
Start a childcare business
Registration and set-up for a new childcare business
Childcare Ofsted compliance quick check
The Ofsted-readiness self-audit
Childcare funding entitlements quick reference
Funding entitlements, including the 30-hour expansion
Responding to an Ofsted inspection concern or inadequate rating
Inspection concern or inadequate rating? Start here
Who regulates you
See all 15Ofsted (opens in a new tab)
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 …
Enforces 12 Acts this sector relies on.
HSE (opens in a new tab)
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates serious incidents …
Enforces 5 Acts this sector relies on.
CIW (opens in a new tab)
Registers and inspects social care and childcare services in Wales. Regulates care homes, domiciliary care, children's homes, and childminders.
Enforces 4 Acts this sector relies on.
Ofqual (opens in a new tab)
Regulates qualifications, examinations, and assessments in England. Approves and monitors awarding organisations. Maintains the Register of Regulated Qualifications.
Enforces 4 Acts this sector relies on.
FSA (opens in a new tab)
Food safety and hygiene regulation across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Enforces food law, provides guidance to food businesses, investigates incidents. Approves food businesses …
Enforces 3 Acts this sector relies on.
Local Authority (opens in a new tab)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local level. Responsibilities …
Enforces 3 Acts this sector relies on.
Key legislation
See all 20General rules
Common requirements that apply across industries. Conditions such as employing people or operating premises are shown only after they are known.
Mandatory 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.
Applies across industries.
General rulePre-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.
Applies across industries.
General ruleMeet 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.
Applies across industries.
General ruleCheck 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.
Applies across industries.
All guidance for education & training
Employment & HR
4
Becoming 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Nannies 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Safeguarding 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Safer 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Compliance & Legal
3
Outdoor 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Premises 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Record-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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Sector-Specific
8
Independent school registration in Scotland and Wales: who registers you
What a proprietor must do to register an independent school in Scotland (Scottish Ministers, HM Inspectors) or Wales (Welsh Ministers, Estyn), the standards and returns that follow, and the penalties for running an unregistered school. The two nations use different laws, different thresholds and different timescales.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Run 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Support 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Comply 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Food Safety for Childcare Providers
Food safety and nutrition requirements for childcare settings, including food business registration, allergen management, HACCP systems, and Ofsted nutrition expectations.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Register 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Start 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Which 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Show 4 more
Childcare 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Insurance for Childcare Businesses
Insurance requirements and options for childcare providers including public liability, employer's liability, professional indemnity, and vehicle insurance for outings.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Childcare Ofsted Compliance Checklist
Comprehensive compliance checklist for Ofsted-registered childcare providers covering registration, safeguarding, staffing, premises, records, and insurance.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Prepare 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.
Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.
Subsectors
SIC 2007 divisions covered by this sector.