Ofsted transparency data extracts: Regulatory activity of providers between April 2035 and March 2026

Ofsted transparency data (extracts)

Regulatory activity of providers between April 2035 and March 2026

Registered managers

As at 31 March 2026, 970 (20%) children’s homes in England that were active or suspended no longer had a registered manager in post. Last year, the figure was 740 (19%). (N.B. There has been an increase in the total numbers of children’s homes).

Of the children’s homes without a registered manager in post as at 31 March 2026, 36% had no manager in post at all and 64% had a manager in post who was unregistered or not yet fully registered. Last year, 46% of children’s homes without a registered manager had no manager at all in post.

This affects all regions and figures show a worsening picture

No RM: no manager figures

East of England 23% 7%
East Midlands 19% 8%
London 20% 8%
North East, Yorkshire and Humber 17% 7% North West 22% 7%
South East 18% 8%
South West 21% 6%
West Midlands 23% 7%

Situation worsening also for supported accommodation

East of England 16% 6%
East Midlands 8% 4%
London 11% 6%
North East, Yorkshire and Humber 13% 4% North West 17% 8%
South East 11% 2%
South West 6% 2%
West Midlands 12% 3%

Unregistered

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, Ofsted opened 850 cases into potential unregistered children’s homes and supported accommodation settings.

Note: In 2025–26, the placing local authority was the source of information for 57% of the cases  opened.

Of the 850 potentially unregistered opened cases in 2025–26, 20 (2%) did not need to be registered, and 710 (84%) should have been registered, with the remaining 120 (14%) not yet determined.

As at 31 March, of the 850 cases of potential unregistered settings opened in 2025–26, 457 (54%) cases had been closed.

By law, all children’s homes must have a registered manager, and all supported accommodation providers must have a registered service manager. Some operate with a manager who is not registered, or with no manager at all. This is illegal, and can affect their inspection judgement.

Enforcement

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, we investigated 3,440 cases relating to 1,990 children’s homes of all types that held a registered status during the reporting year. In this period, there were one or more cases logged against 40% of all children’s homes that were active during the year.

Action included continued monitoring by allocated inspector, key line of enquiry for next inspection , compliance and enforcement action, inspection brought forward, monitoring visit, provider-led investigation, child protection referral or to other agency.

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, Ofsted carried out the following enforcement actions across all children’s homes:

• 140 restrictions of accommodation
• 62 suspensions
• 8 notices of cancellation

Of the 61 homes that had received suspensions at some point during the year, 14 have since resigned, 1 has closed, 3 have been cancelled, 29 have become active and 14 remained suspended as at 31 March 2026.

Additionally, 650 compliance notices were issued to a total of 250 providers.

Incident notifications from providers to Ofsted

Children’s homes

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, Ofsted received 55,800 notifications from children’s homes. These came from a total of 4,540 providers.

Police involvement (13,300) 24%
Allegation or complaint (7,400) 13%
Child protection enquiry (1,290) 2%
Sexual exploitation (640) 1%
Other (32,900) 59%

Supported accommodation

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, we received 7,830 notifications. These came from a total of 740 providers.

Police involvement (2,720) 35%
Sexual exploitation (580) 7%
Child protection enquiry (490) 6%
Allegation or complaint (330) 4%
Other (3,590) 46%