Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the exemption in regulation 3(1)(c) of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 for accommodation provided for holidays and other specified activities for fewer than 28 days; and whether she plans to amend this exemption.

Registered providers of children’s homes must meet the Care Standards Act 2000 and associated regulations, available at:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/14/contents.

This legislation requires providers to have an up-to-date statement of purpose, setting out how a children’s home operates. It is illegal to run or manage a children’s home or service that has not been registered with Ofsted. Mandatory registration with Ofsted ensures that appropriate oversight and checks are in place. Unregistered settings may pose a significant risk to vulnerable children as there is no assurance about the safety of children, staff or the environment.

On 1 April 2026, Ofsted updated the Social Care Common Inspection Framework to promote high-quality inspections that focus on the impact of services on the lives and relationships of children and families. Ofsted is currently consulting on further reforms, with implementation from 2027. The department is working closely with Ofsted as it updates inspection frameworks, grounded in our shared ambition to support the sector to improve services and outcomes for children and families.