Complaints

Childcare providers

Ofsted have recently revised their complaints commitment and now all new complaints about early years providers are published on the Ofsted website. These complaints will remain on the ofsted website for five years following the closure of the complaint investigation.

Ofsted will look into any concern or complaint, that a provider is not meeting the requirements of the registers they are on or their conditions of registration.

All early years providers must have a written procedure for dealing with concerns and complaints from parents in place, and all written records of complaints and their outcomes should be kept by the provider for a period of three years.

All written complaints relating to the welfare requirements must be investigated and complainants must be notified of the outcome of the investigation within 28 days of the complaint being received.

A written record of all complaints made and actions taken must be provided for Ofsted, if requested.

Ofsted

Early years providers also have the right to make complaints about Ofsted, or appeal decisions made by them.

If you have any concerns regarding Ofsted please contact the helpline on 0300 123 1231.

If you feel the concerns raised have not been resolved then you may decide to lodge a formal complaint.

A complaint can be made at any stage during an inspection or up to 30 calendar days from the date of publication of any report. Where there is no inspection report a complaint can be made up to 30 calendar days from the date of the inspection.

Complaints should be made in writing to:

The Complaints Manager
Ofsted National Business Unit
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD

Ofsted have a duty to provide an opportunity for all childminders, childcare providers and applicants for registration, to object to certain steps that they intend to take.

All early years providers and applicants for registration, can also appeal to the Health Education and Social Care (the Chamber), formerly the Care Standards Tribunal, against decisions Ofsted makes in respect of their registration/application.

Information and guidance relating to complaints and appeals can be found on the Ofsted guidance pages.