Childcare and the law
Introduction to Ofsted's role in registering childcare and the legal basis for our work.
The says that childcare is 鈥榓ny form of care for a child, including education or any other supervised activity鈥�.
Most providers caring for children under 8 years old for more than 2 hours a day in England must register with Ofsted. If you鈥檙e a childminder or a childminder without domestic premises, you can choose to register with a childminder agency instead.
To register, you need to be 18 or over and have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
If you want to register with Ofsted, contact your local authority for information and advice. Local authorities are legally obliged to provide this support.
It is a criminal offence to provide unregistered childcare, or to work from unapproved premises, if you are legally required to register. Ofsted is responsible for making sure that only people who are suitable and ready to provide childcare are registered.
It is an offence to knowingly make a false or misleading statement in an application to register.
For more information, see and supporting regulations , and .
Childcare exemptions are set out in .
| Next chapter: Registration exemptions.