Consultation outcome

Introducing national standards for unregulated provision

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Detail of outcome

Summary of the responses we received, along with the government’s response outlining the next steps.

You can also read the consultation analysis ‘Consultation on national standards for unregulated provision: analytical report’ and the analysis of the focus groups with children and young people ‘National standards for unregulated provision: young people’s views’.

The government will:

  • implement mandatory national standards for provision that accommodates 16-and 17-year-old looked-after children and care leavers
  • introduce requirements for providers to register and be inspected by Ofsted
  • call this provision ‘supported accommodation for young people’

Original consultation

Summary

We are seeking views on proposed standards for unregulated provision for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

The number of children in care placed in unregulated settings has increased from 2,900 in 2009 to 6,490 in 2020. We want to ensure these placements are of good quality.

This consultation invites views on:

  • the key indicators of whether a provider is delivering ‘care’ or ‘support’
  • how best to define this provision in future and whether ‘supported accommodation for older children’ is the best descriptor
  • what the best provision in this sector looks like and therefore what needs to be accounted for in new national standards
  • a proposed suite of national standards
  • how settings should be regulated by Ofsted

We have also published a separate version of this consultation aimed at children and young people.

Published 24 May 2021
Last updated 15 December 2021 + show all updates
  1. Updated response to include the names of some organisations who had responded to the consultation via email.

  2. Added the consultation response and links to related research reports.

  3. First published.