Humpty's Ofsted Report 2004 Ofsted carries out five main regulatory functions in order to ensure that day care providers meet the national standards: 1. Registration - All day care providers have to be registered with Ofsted. This includes a criminal records check, a health check and an inspection of the premises before the providers begin caring for children. 2. Inspection - After registration Ofsted continues to regularly inspect day care providers to ensure that the people and the premises continue to provide a suitable standard of care for young children, in line with the national standards. 3. Investigation - An Ofsted investigation of a childcare provider can be triggered by many actions, including complaints made by parents or members of the public. Ofsted consider all complaints and investigate providers to ensure that they meet the national standards. 4. Enforcement - Ofsted uses information gathered during an inspection or investigation to take action to ensure that day care providers meet the national standards. This usually means adding 'conditions' to their registration. In serious cases this action may mean cancelling the registration of the day care provider. 5.Government Level - Ofsted also uses information gathered during the above functions to advise the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and local authorities on childcare issues. How can I tell if a day care provider is registered with Ofsted? Registered providers will have a Registration Certificate - parents should ask to see the provider's registration certificate. If the provider refuses, you may contact Ofsted to check that they are registered on 0845 601 4772. What happens during an Ofsted inspection of a daycare provider? An Ofsted Childcare Inspector (CCI) will visit the premises of a Day Care provider or the home of a childminder. The inspector checks the care provider against the 14 National Standards for day care and childminding. Some day care providers receive an educational grant in order to provide education for children aged 3 and 4. In these provisions an extra check is carried out every 2 - 4 years to check the quality of education provided, this is known as a 'combined inspection'. After the inspection, Ofsted issues the care provider with an inspection report. How do I get a report? Reports on day care providers and childminders will soon be available from the Ofsted website. In the meantime you can ask the provider to show you their registration certificate and a copy of their Ofsted report. Parents can also ask the local Children's Information Service (CIS) They may be able to provide a copy of the report, provided the childminder concerned has given his or her consent. Parents can contact their local CIS by calling the Childcare Link helpline on 0800 960 296.