Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that Ofsted expedites applications to set up childminding businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.

The safety of children being cared for by the early years sector is paramount.

Prospective childminders must follow Ofsted’s registration process. This includes providing details of criminal record checks (DBS), training in both childcare and first aid, a health declaration form signed off by a GP and contact details for two references. Once the application has been made online, it takes up to twelve weeks to register with Ofsted.

Guidance on the process and time taken to register can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-register-as-a-childminder.

Ofsted resumed their registration visits on 8 June, as confirmed in their guidance below:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-plans-from-september-2020#information-for-early-years-providers.