Free guides
The rules, in plain English
Short guides to the regulations children's home managers are held to, checked at source. Free to read and share.
All guides
Reg 35 restraint records: the 24-hour, 48-hour and 5-day rules
What Regulation 35 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2015 requires after control, discipline or restraint: the record within 24 hours, staff spoken to within 48, the child within 5 days.
Read the guideRegulation guide · 4 min readReg 40 notifications: what to tell Ofsted, and when
Which serious events a children's home must notify to Ofsted under Regulation 40, who else to tell, what the notice must say, and what 'without delay' means in practice.
Read the guideManager guide · 5 min readA 12-week induction plan for a new registered manager
A practical 12-week induction for a new registered manager of a children's home in England: week one priorities, the regulations to know, RI reviews and how to evidence it.
Read the guideRegulation guide · 4 min readReg 44 and Reg 45: what is the difference?
Regulation 44 independent person visits and Regulation 45 quality of care reviews compared: who does them, how often, who gets the report and what inspectors look for.
Read the guide2026 change · 3 min readOfsted notices by email: why the inbox matters in 2026
Since the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, Ofsted can serve notices by email, treated as served the next working day. What children's home managers should change.
Read the guideSafeguarding guide · 3 min readMissing from care: the return interview and the 72-hour rule
When a child returns from going missing from a children's home: the return interview offered within 72 hours, whose duty it is, and what the home should do.
Read the guideFree download
All the timescales on one page
The manager's clock card puts every rule from these guides on one A4 sheet.
Free · 10 minutes
How ready is your home?
Ten questions, a score, and the courses that close your gaps.