Full compliance requirements for UK nurseries

Running a registered nursery means keeping on top of a constant cycle of renewals. Let one lapse and you're not just facing an Ofsted action — you may be operating illegally. This guide covers every compliance requirement a UK nursery must meet, with the renewal frequencies inspectors check.

Ofsted registration

Your Ofsted registration is the foundation of everything. Without it, you cannot legally operate as a childcare provider. Your certificate must be displayed prominently on the premises. If you operate across multiple sites, each site needs its own registration. Notify Ofsted of any changes to your provision — new manager, change of premises, expansion of age range — before making them, not after.

Insurance — two policies, both mandatory

Public liability insurance covers claims from third parties — parents, visitors, or children — for injury or damage caused by your nursery's activities. Most providers require a minimum of £5 million cover. Employer's liability insurance is a legal requirement the moment you employ anyone, and the minimum legal cover is £5 million. Both certificates must be in date and accessible on the day of inspection. Lapsed insurance is a serious safeguarding concern in Ofsted's view — it can affect your overall grade.

Fire safety — annual requirement

Every nursery must have a current fire risk assessment completed by a competent person. For most nurseries this means an annual assessment, signed and dated. Beyond the assessment itself, you must maintain a fire safety log showing regular fire drills (at least twice a year), equipment checks (smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, fire doors), and staff fire safety training. Keep all of this together — inspectors will ask for it.

DBS checks — the most common compliance failure

Every person who works with children must have an enhanced DBS check with barred list check before starting. There is no legal requirement to renew DBS checks on a fixed cycle, but Ofsted expects nurseries to have a process for monitoring changes in staff circumstances. Many nurseries subscribe to the DBS Update Service (currently £13/year per person) which allows continuous checking. If you're not using the Update Service, your policy should state how often you review and recheck. Three years is a common benchmark. See our full guide to DBS checks for more detail.

Paediatric first aid — expiry catches people out

At least one person with a valid paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate must be present on the premises at all times when children are in your care. PFA certificates are valid for three years. If your sole certificated member of staff is off sick or on leave, you need a contingency — either another qualified staff member or, in some cases, temporary cover. Plan this now, not the day it becomes a problem.

Policies — annual review cycle

The following policies must be reviewed at least annually and signed off by the manager or owner:

• Safeguarding and child protection policy (must reflect current KCSIE guidance)
• Health and safety policy
• SEND policy
• Behaviour management policy
• Complaints policy
• Equal opportunities policy
• Whistleblowing policy
• Online safety policy
• Food and nutrition policy (if you provide meals)
• Medication administration policy
• Settling-in and keyperson policy

Policies that have not been reviewed in over a year — even if the content hasn't changed — are treated as potentially out of date. Date-stamp every review.

Risk assessments — ongoing obligation

You need written risk assessments for the premises, outdoor spaces, all equipment, and any off-site activities. These should be reviewed whenever anything changes — new equipment, layout changes, new activities — and formally reviewed at least annually. A risk assessment from 2022 that hasn't been looked at since will be flagged.

Food hygiene — if you serve meals or snacks

Any nursery that prepares or serves food must register with the local authority as a food business (free, done through your local council). Staff who handle food must have level 2 food hygiene training. Certificates expire every three years. Your kitchen must pass periodic food hygiene inspections from the local authority's environmental health team — these are separate from Ofsted and will result in a food hygiene rating being published online.

Building and premises checks

If you own or manage the premises, you may also need to maintain gas safety certificates (annual), electrical installation condition reports (every 5 years for commercial premises), PAT testing records for electrical equipment, legionella risk assessments, and asbestos surveys (for buildings built before 2000). Check what applies to your specific premises with your landlord or building owner.

The tracking problem

The real danger with compliance isn't that owners don't know what they need — it's that they lose track of expiry dates across a dozen different documents, all renewing on different cycles. A DBS check in January, insurance renewal in April, fire risk assessment in July, PFA certificates expiring at different points throughout the year. Most nurseries track this in a spreadsheet that nobody updates. The week something lapses is always the worst week to find out.