Apply to join the Childcare Register (CR1)
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-10)

Use this service if you want to apply to join the compulsory or voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

Who can make an application

To register your childcare on the Childcare Register, you must be either the:
- sole owner
- nominated individual of an organisation, such as a company or partnership
You may need to use a different application depending on the type of childcare you provide, see different types of childcare provider (#different-childcare-types).

Education, or any other supervised activity, provided by a school during school hours for a registered pupil (from the 1 September following their fifth birthday) is not childcare and cannot be registered with Ofsted.

A school is also not required to register childcare provision with Ofsted in certain circumstances. See Registering school-based childcare provision (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/factsheet-childcare-registering-school-based-provision).

Requirements of the Childcare Register

There are 2 parts to the Childcare Register. These are the voluntary and compulsory parts and they have their own requirements to register.

You will need to be looking after children for more than 2 hours in a day in order to register on either part. There is one exception (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-and-childcare-providers-register-with-ofsted/registration-exemptions#the-2-hour-rule) to this in relation to childcare immediately before or after school.

You will have to register on the compulsory part of the register to provide childcare in the specified circumstances.

You can choose to register on the voluntary part in different circumstances.

You can apply to both parts of the Childcare Register in the same application.

Compulsory part of the Childcare Register

If you do not have to register as a different type of provider (#different-childcare-types), you will need to apply to join the compulsory part of the Childcare Register if you are going to be looking after children from the 1 September after their fifth birthday, up to their eighth birthday.

More information is available on whether you will be within the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifying-for-the-compulsory-part-of-the-childcare-register).

Voluntary part of the Childcare Register

You do not have to register, but can choose to do so in certain circumstances if you look after children under 8 years old either:
- for 14 days or less each year for each individual provision
- for 4 hours or less each day and the children’s parents will stay in the immediate area
You might also be able to register voluntarily if you offer specific types of childcare to children aged 3 and over.

More information is available on this type of childcare in our guide on whether you can register for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifying-for-the-voluntary-part-of-the-childcare-register).

Different types of childcare provider

If you meet the requirements for one of the following childcare providers, you must use that service instead:
- a nanny (https://www.gov.uk/become-childminder-nanny/register-nanny) – where you look after 1 or 2 families’ children in their family home
- a childminder (https://www.gov.uk/become-childminder-nanny/register-childminder) – where you, with up to 3 other adults, look after children in your home or someone else’s home
- a childminder without domestic premises (https://gov.uk/guidance/register-as-a-childminder-without-domestic-premises) – where you, with up to 3 other adults, look after children in a non-domestic premises (such as a church hall)
- a group of 5 or more adults who work together at the same time to provide childcare in someone’s home (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/childcare-on-domestic-premises) – this is known as ‘childcare on domestic premises’
- a nursery or other daycare (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-register-your-nursery-or-other-daycare-organisation-eyo) – where you look after children on commercial premises rather than someone’s home
Before you start

You will need a specific type of criminal record (Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)) check. You must read the guidance below on what DBS check you need, as having the wrong type will delay your registration.

At least one person caring for the children on the premises must have:
- a first-aid certificate
- training that meets the requirements of the compulsory (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/daycare-providers-on-the-compulsory-childcare-register-ofsted-requirements) and/or voluntary (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/daycare-providers-on-the-voluntary-childcare-register-ofsted-requirements) part of the childcare register, depending on which you join
These do not have to be held by the same person, but there must always be staff qualified with these on the premises when children are being cared for.

Which DBS check to apply for

You will need an enhanced criminal record (DBS) check with barred lists (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/criminal-record-checks-for-childminders-and-childcare-workers).

If you are going to be living or working in domestic premises such as the home where the childcare is taking place, you must make sure to select ‘yes’ on question x66 to say you are going to be in a home-based role (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-home-based-positions-guide/home-based-position-definition-and-guidance).

If you are going to be working in non-domestic premises, make sure to select ‘no’ on question x66 to say you are not going to be in a home-based role.

Ofsted also recommends joining the DBS Update Service (https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service) to keep your details up to date.

Other people connected to the registration

You will also need to read our dedicated guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-join-a-nursery-or-other-daycare-organisation-ey2) to know who else connected to your daycare will need to apply to Ofsted.

Lived abroad

If you have lived abroad in the last 5 years, you may need a certificate of good conduct or other evidence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-and-childcare-providers-register-with-ofsted/suitability-checks#people-who-have-lived-abroad-in-the-last-5-years) from the relevant embassy.

How much it costs

It usually costs £114 to apply to register with Ofsted. The registration fee is not refundable. You will need to pay your registration fee each year.

Find out about other costs and renewal fees (https://www.gov.uk/register-childminder-childcare-provider/registration-costs).

How long the application takes

It should take you about 30 minutes to complete this application.

Apply to register

Apply (https://www.join-childcare-register.service.gov.uk/submissions/new-form/CR1)

Next steps

Your application to register as a nursery or other daycare will not be reviewed by Ofsted until these 2 steps are also completed.

When you have completed this application, you must also:
- add a setting to your application (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/add-a-setting-to-your-application-to-register-a-daycare-eys) for each setting that you want to provide childcare from
- ensure that each person who will be in a governance position applies to join the daycare (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-join-a-nursery-or-other-daycare-organisation-ey2)
After you are registered, you must tell Ofsted when there are changes to the people associated with the childcare (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-changes-to-registered-people-in-your-nursery-or-other-daycare-ey3). This includes children already living or working at the childcare who turn 16.