The Registration and Inspection of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

PART 3 Amendments to the Fees and Frequency of Inspections Regulations

Amendments to the Fees and Frequency of Inspections Regulations

9.  The Fees and Frequency of Inspections Regulations are amended in accordance with the following provisions of this Part.

Amendment to regulation 2

10.  In regulation 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (b) of the definition of “secure children’s home”, omit “(b)” the second time it occurs.

Amendment to regulation 6

11.  In regulation 6 (children’s homes)—

(a) in paragraph (1), omit the words “or a children’s home that is not a small children’s home”;

(b) after paragraph (1), insert—

“(1A) Where the application is for registration as the person who carries on a children’s home that is not a small children’s home, the fee is £3284.”.

Amendment to regulation 18

12.  In regulation 18 (interpretation and introductory), in paragraph (2)(b), after “regulations 20 to 25” insert “and 26A”.

Amendment to regulation 19

13.  In regulation 19 (boarding schools, residential colleges and residential special schools)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (3)(b) and (c), for “17” substitute “13”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (3)(b)(ii), for “17th” substitute “13th”.

Amendment to regulation 23

14.  In regulation 23 (children’s homes)—

(a) in sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and (c), for “20” substitute “16”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (1)(b)(ii), for “20th” substitute “16th”.

Insertion of regulation 26A

15.  After regulation 26 (local authority adoption and fostering functions), insert—

“26A    Supported accommodation undertakings

(1) The annual fee payable in respect of a small supported accommodation undertaking is £2,700.

(2) The annual fee payable in respect of a large supported accommodation undertaking is £3,000.”.

Amendment to regulation 27

16.—(1) Regulation 27 (frequency of inspections) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (3A), after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“(c) which does not record a judgment on the overall experiences and progress of children and young people living in a children’s home because there are no children and young people living in the home at the time of the inspection, no further inspection will be required in that year unless the Chief Inspector determines that a further inspection is required.”.

(3) In paragraph (3B), for “subsection” substitute “paragraph”.

(4) After paragraph (3B), insert—

“(3C) The Chief Inspector must arrange for premises which are used for the purposes of a supported accommodation undertaking to be inspected at least once in the first inspection cycle and thereafter at least once in each subsequent inspection cycle.”.

(5) In paragraph (4), for “paragraph (1)” substitute “paragraphs (1) and (3C)”.

(6) In paragraph (5), after sub-paragraph (c) insert—

“(d) “first inspection cycle” means:

(i) for a supported accommodation undertaking registered by the Chief Inspector before 1st April 2024, the period commencing with 1st September 2024 and ending with 31st March 2027;

(ii) for a supported accommodation undertaking registered by the Chief Inspector on or after 1st April 2024, the period commencing with 1st April following the date on which the supported accommodation undertaking was registered and ending 36 months later;

(e) “subsequent inspection cycle” means the period commencing with 1st April following the date on which the supported accommodation undertaking was last inspected and ending 36 months later.”.

Substitution of certain fees payable under the Fees and Frequency of Inspections Regulations

17.  In each provision of the Fees and Frequency of Inspections Regulations specified in column 1 of the table in the Schedule, for the amount specified in column 2 (old fee) substitute the amount specified in column 3 (new fee).