Sending reports, updates and notifications: Find answers

You may be able to find an answer to your question from our list of frequently asked questions. 

Childcare reports, updates and notifications 

How do I report a serious childcare incident?

If you’re an Ofsted registered childcare provider, you must tell us about any significant events that occur to your childcare or to people connected with your childcare. You must do this as soon as is reasonably practical but, in any event, within 14 days. 

Read our guidance to find out what significant events you need to tell Ofsted about. 

To tell Ofsted about a significant event, use our report a serious childcare incident form. You will be asked to choose a category of incident. If you’re not sure which one to choose, pick the category that most closely fits what you want to report. 

How do I whistleblow or complain about the childcare provider I work for (or used to work for)?

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) frameworks for childminders and group providers require childcare providers to have whistleblowing procedures in place for staff or assistants (including students and volunteers). If you are concerned about child safety and want to whistleblow, you should follow your current or former employer’s whistleblowing procedure.

If you want to whistleblow to someone other than the childcare provider where you work, you can contact the NSPCC or the Children’s Commissioner. To read more about whistleblowing in childcare or speak confidentially with an adviser, visit the NSPCC's whistleblowing advice line guidance.

If you feel unable to raise your concern with the provider, or want to complain about a childcare provider that you work for, or used to work for, contact Ofsted with your concerns by emailing CIE@ofsted.gov.uk. It is important to know that this will not count as whistleblowing and does not provide you with employment protections set out under whistleblowing law. Include your full name, contact details, and the details of the provider you are concerned about. We will not share any of these details with your employer. However, if we discuss the complaint with them, they may know who you are based on the details of your complaint. 

Children's social care reports, updates and notifications 

How do I report a serious incident in children's social care?

Children's social care providers must report serious incidents to Ofsted.  

Find out what incidents you need to report and how to report them in our Tell Ofsted about an incident: children's social care notification guidance. 

How do I send independent person reports, quality of care reports, provider visit reports and review of quality reports to Ofsted?

You need to send the following reports to Ofsted: 

  • children’s homes (including secure children’s homes) need to send independent person reports under regulation 44 and review of quality of care reports under regulation 45 
  • supported accommodation services need to send review of quality of support reports under regulation 32 
  • independent fostering agencies need to send review of quality of care reports under regulation 35 
  • residential family centres need to send review of quality of care reports under regulation 23 and registered provider visit reports under regulation 25 
  • residential holiday schemes for disabled children need to send provider visit reports made under regulation 29 and review of quality reports under regulation 30 

How to send reports: 

  1. Only send 1 report per email. If you have more than 1 report to send, email each report separately. 
  2. Save the report as a Word or PDF document. 
  3. Our email addresses are secure and you do not need to password protect your document(s). If you decide to use password protection, email the password to sc.admin@ofsted.gov.uk before you send anything. 
  4. Name the document using the type of regulation and the word ‘report’, your provider name, and your unique reference number (URN), for example: ‘Regulation 44 report My Children’s Home Name CH12345’. 
  5. Attach the document to an email and use the name of your document as the subject line in your email. 
  6. Send to enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 

Do not send any enquiries alongside your document as they will not be read (these documents are sorted and processed automatically). 

How do I send Ofsted an updated statement of purpose?

You must have a statement of purpose that accurately describes the social care service you provide and you must operate in a way that is consistent with this statement. The registered person (or nominated individual in a supported accommodation service) is responsible for this. 

If you need to change your statement of purpose, you must send us a copy of your updated statement within 28 days of making any changes. Only the registered person (or nominated person if you are a supported accommodation service) can do this. 

How to send your updated statement: 

  1. Save your statement as a Word or PDF document. 
  2. Do not password protect any documents you send. 
  3. Name the document statement of purpose, the name of your service, your unique reference number (URN). For example, ‘Statement of Purpose My Children’s Home CH12345’. 
  4. Attach the document and use the name of your document as the subject line in your email. Do not include any additional information in your email as we will not act on it. 
  5. Send your updated statement to enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 

Do not send any other enquiries with your updated statement as they will not be read (your statement will be sorted and processed automatically). 

Can't find the answer you're looking for?

If you can't find what you're looking for, email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk from the email address you have registered with Ofsted or are using for your application, including your unique reference number (URN) if you have one.

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