Regulation 45 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 requires the registered person to conduct — or commission — a review of the quality of care provided in the home at least every six months. The resulting written report must be sent to Ofsted and the placing authorities within 28 days of the review being completed.
In practice, Reg 45 reports are one of the most scrutinised documents during an Ofsted inspection. Inspectors use them not just to assess the quality of your analysis, but to judge whether leadership genuinely understands what is happening in the home — and whether it is driving improvement.
What Regulation 45 actually requires
Regulation 45 (read alongside Quality Standard 6: Leadership and Management) requires the review to consider:
- The quality of care provided to children
- Whether the home is meeting the needs of the children who live there
- The effectiveness of the home's policies and procedures
- Feedback from children, their parents or guardians, placing authorities, and staff
- Any recommendations made in the most recent Regulation 44 visit report
The report must be signed by the registered person and must clearly address each of these areas. A document that simply confirms things are "good" without substantive evidence will be flagged immediately.
The six quality dimensions Ofsted use to assess Reg 45 reports
Inspectors examining a Reg 45 report will typically assess it across six dimensions. Understanding these helps you structure your review in a way that directly addresses what they are looking for.
1. Evidence of genuine analysis
Inspectors are looking for analysis, not assertion. Statements like "care standards are high" or "staff are performing well" without supporting evidence will attract criticism. A strong Reg 45 identifies specific examples — incidents, outcomes for individual children, qualitative feedback — and draws conclusions from them.
What good looks like: The report references specific events, compares current performance against previous periods, and explains the why behind any changes observed.
2. Meaningful consultation with children
Regulation 45 explicitly requires that children are consulted as part of the review. Inspectors will ask how consultation was conducted, whether it was accessible and age-appropriate, and — critically — whether children's views have actually influenced anything.
What good looks like: The report describes the consultation method used, quotes or paraphrases what children said, and shows where their feedback has shaped decisions or practice.
3. Response to Regulation 44 findings
Every Reg 45 should directly address the findings and recommendations from the most recent Reg 44 independent visitor report. Inspectors see it as a significant concern if a Reg 45 makes no reference to Reg 44 findings, or if the same recommendations appear repeatedly without resolution.
What good looks like: Each Reg 44 recommendation is addressed by name, with an update on progress and — where actions are outstanding — a clear timeline and owner.
4. Identification of areas for improvement
A Reg 45 that identifies no areas for improvement is almost always viewed sceptically. Inspectors understand that all homes have areas of development, and a report that fails to identify any suggests either that monitoring is insufficient or that leadership lacks the self-awareness to identify its own gaps.
What good looks like: The report names specific practice areas, systems, or outcomes that need to improve — and sets out what action will be taken, by whom, and by when.
5. Quality of management oversight
The Reg 45 is a leadership document. Inspectors use it to assess whether the registered person has genuine visibility of day-to-day practice — not just whether the home is safe, but whether it is delivering good outcomes for children.
What good looks like: The report demonstrates that the registered person has reviewed case records, observed practice, spoken with children and staff, and drawn their own conclusions rather than simply relying on what managers have told them.
6. Clarity and professionalism of the written document
A Reg 45 report is a formal document submitted to Ofsted and placing authorities. Inspectors expect it to be clearly written, well-structured, and free from vague language or repetition. A poorly written report creates a poor first impression that can colour how inspectors approach the wider inspection.
What good looks like: Clear headings, specific evidence in each section, a concise executive summary, and a clear action plan at the end.
The most common Regulation 45 failures
In Ofsted inspection reports across the sector, the following are among the most frequently cited Reg 45 weaknesses:
- Consulting children as a formality. Children are asked for their views but the consultation is tokenistic — a quick survey with no follow-through.
- Copying and pasting from the previous report. Inspectors often read multiple Reg 45 reports during a full inspection and will notice if the language is identical to the previous period.
- Failing to reference Regulation 44 findings. This is treated as a leadership failure, not an administrative oversight.
- Action plans with no accountability. Recommendations listed without an owner or a timeline have little credibility.
- Focusing only on positives. A balanced, honest report — that names what is not working as well as what is — demonstrates exactly the self-awareness that Ofsted values.
Practical structure for a strong Reg 45 report
There is no prescribed template for a Regulation 45 report, but the following structure covers the required content in a logical, inspector-friendly order:
- Introduction — period covered, who conducted the review, methodology (visits, observations, document review, consultations)
- Summary of findings — brief overview of the home's position at the time of the review
- Quality of care — detailed analysis against the 9 Quality Standards, with specific evidence
- Outcomes for children — individual-level evidence where appropriate (anonymised)
- Children's views — how consultation was conducted, what was said, what changed as a result
- Staff and workforce — supervision quality, training compliance, culture
- Regulation 44 findings — response to each recommendation from the most recent visit
- Areas for improvement — honest identification of development areas
- Action plan — specific actions, owners, and timescales
- Conclusion — signed statement from the registered person
How CareClarity supports Regulation 45 preparation
CareClarity's Reg 45 Review tool allows you to upload your draft Regulation 45 report alongside the most recent Regulation 44 visit report. The tool provides structured feedback across six quality dimensions — identifying gaps, assessing whether Reg 44 findings have been addressed, and highlighting areas where the evidence base is thin.
It is designed to be used before you finalise and submit your report — giving you the same critical lens an inspector would apply, so you can strengthen your report before it reaches Ofsted.
Start your free 7-day trial and run your next Reg 45 through CareClarity before submission.