Recommendation 13

The Department described the delays in Ofsted registering providers, and how this impacted the use of illegal provision. Changes to the law requiring the registration of those providing supported accommodation for 16 and 17-year-olds, strengthening oversight, led to a significant growth in home registrations and to delays. Ofsted has set a two-to-six-month target to register priority applications, including those providing emergency placements and where an urgent need has been identified, and an 18-month target for other applications.28 Meeting children’s needs