Registration & core documents
Statement of Purpose, location assessments, notifications, policies, certificates: the foundations inspectors review before they even arrive.
Free PDF · 2026 edition
The Ofsted Readiness Checklist for children's homes & supported accommodation
46 checks to help you review your evidence, identify gaps and plan what to do next. Includes evidence prompts, self-assessment scoring and a 30-day action plan.
Updated for the April 2026 SCCIFNo sales call required
Get the free checklist
Complete the form and we'll email you a link to the PDF.
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What's inside
46 checks across five practical sections
Work through registration, care practice and management evidence, with a dedicated section for Annex A and inspection day.
Children's experiences & progress
Live plans, children's voices, education, health and progress over time: the heart of every judgement, tested through case tracking.
Help & protection
Safeguarding aligned to Working Together 2026, incident patterns, missing episodes, safer recruitment: the pillar that can limit the whole outcome.
Leadership & management
Regulation 44, 45 and 32 reviews, supervision, qualifications, RI governance: oversight an inspector can see, not just hear about.
Annex A & inspection day
Same-day Annex A readiness, the first hours of an unannounced visit, and the lines of enquiry inspectors build before they knock.
Put the checklist to work
Turn your review into a practical action plan
Use it as a leadership team to review the evidence you hold and decide where to focus next.
Get the free checklist- 01
Review the evidence
Use the prompt alongside each check to identify the records and examples that support your assessment.
- 02
Score your service honestly
Work through the self-assessment with your team. The checklist labels which checks apply to each setting.
- 03
Agree your next 30 days
Turn gaps into a plan with named owners, then repeat the review to track progress.
Common questions
Before you request your copy
What the checklist covers, how you receive it and how to use it with your team.
Is it really free?
Yes. Complete the form and we'll email you a link to the free PDF. No sales call is required and there is no obligation. You can print the checklist and work through it with your team.
Does it cover supported accommodation?
Yes. Most checks apply to both settings. Checks specific to children's homes or supported accommodation are clearly labelled.
Is it current for 2026?
Yes. It reflects the SCCIF updates applying from 1 April 2026, the strengthened Annex A expectations around patterns and oversight, and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.
Will it guarantee a good outcome?
No checklist can guarantee an inspection outcome. Judgements rest on children's real experiences and everyday practice. What it does is help make strong practice visible, evidenced and easy to demonstrate.
Can I share it with my team?
Please do. It's built for exactly that: print it, work through it as a leadership team, score each pillar honestly, and turn the gaps into a 30-day plan with named owners.
Who wrote it?
The team behind OVcare, care management software used by 100+ UK care facilities. The checklist is built from the current statutory frameworks for children's homes and supported accommodation.
Ready to review your service?
Get the checklist by email and start building your next 30-day action plan.
After the checklist
Book a free demoKeep your care records connected
See how OVcare brings daily logs, care plans, HR and quality reviews into one platform.