Registering a secure children's home or school
Updated 17 October 2025
Applies to England
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A secure children’s home or school is a type of children’s home where children can lawfully be deprived of their liberty to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
How to register a secure children’s home or school
If you want to register a secure children’s home or school, you must first contact either:
- the Department for Education (DfE) for secure children’s homes
- the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for secure schools
This is to get the Secretary of State’s approval under The Children (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991.
New buildings and refurbishment
If you are planning a new building or to carry out any refurbishment or building works, you must share your plans with the DfE and MoJ. They will get the views of specialist architectural advisers and Ofsted before you carry out any works.
The DfE or MoJ will discuss your plans with you.
We may visit at various stages throughout the building process, with specialist architects, to review any existing building or new development site.
When you have nearly completed your refurbishment or building work, we will make a final visit with the architects. The architects will provide a written report on whether the building is fit for purpose. This report will also include our views.
Applying to register with Ofsted
If the DfE and MoJ agree that your building can be approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children’s liberty, they will then direct you to our registration guidance and the memorandum of understanding between Ofsted and the DfE.
If the building is fit to be registered, we will ask you to apply to register. Do not submit your application for registration until the building is almost ready for occupancy. We will agree the timing of your application with you.