• 0161 696 6170
  • Request a callback
Stephensons Solicitors LLP Banner Image

Ofsted lawyers - Ofsted compliance & regulation

Stephensons has a team of specialist regulatory lawyers who provide advice and representation to registered early years, childcare, education, and social care providers in relation to compliance, inspections, enforcement action, criminal investigations, and appeals to the first-tier tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber).

Our specialist Ofsted lawyers understand the intense pressure on providers to comply with the vast and complex regulations governing regulated provisions, whilst ensuring that children are suitably protected and safeguarded. We appreciate how a negative inspection report, or any potential enforcement action, can affect your business significantly and, in many cases, unfairly so.

It is important to protect your business and reputation with legal advice from a specialist before you take any action. Defending you and your business is our primary concern. For a confidential, no-obligation discussion regarding your case, please contact our specialist regulatory lawyers now on 0161 696 6250.

Excellent4.6 score on Trustpilot
Rated 4.6 / 5 Based on 1978 reviews
Read all reviews

Why choose our Ofsted solicitors?

Our firm has developed an excellent reputation in Ofsted compliance and regulation, and we pride ourselves on achieving the best possible results for our clients. We have successfully defended and represented numerous providers across a variety of sectors, assisting them in retaining their registration, challenging inspection reports and/or unfair gradings, and avoiding criminal prosecution.

We have a network of offices across the country, including in London and Manchester, and we act for clients nationwide. We understand the sectors that our clients work in, whether this be early years, education, or social care sectors, and understand the specific needs of our clients. We appreciate that Ofsted often impose tight deadlines and we regularly prepare cases at very short notice.

We recognise that Ofsted enforcement action, and even inspections, can be a stressful and frustrating time and our experience allows us to provide clear and strategic advice at all stages.

Our Ofsted experience

Our specialist team of lawyers have experience of advising registered providers within the following sectors:

  • Early years (nurseries, after-school clubs, pre-school, and holiday clubs)
  • Childminders
  • Education (schools, independent schools, colleges, apprenticeship providers, initial teacher training programme providers, and many other educational institutions)
  • Social care providers (children’s homes, supported accommodation, adoption and fostering agencies, and registered managers)
  • Unregistered provisions

Our Ofsted lawyers regularly act for providers nationwide in relation to the following:

  • Notices of intention/proposal and Notices of decision to:
    • Cancel registration
    • Suspend registration
    • Vary, impose or remove a condition of registration
    • Restrict registration
    • Refuse registration​
  • Appeals to the first-tier tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber)
  • Emergency applications to the Magistrates Courts
  • Welfare requirement notices/compliance notices
  • Regulatory meetings
  • Factual accuracy challenges
  • Complaints against inspection reports and/or inspectors
  • Interviews under caution
  • Criminal investigations and prosecutions

Take a look at our Ofsted case studies and find out how we have helped childcare providers, education providers, and social care providers in England and Wales to challenge Ofsted and helped them through proceedings before the first-tier tribunal.  

If you require Ofsted advice or support in relation to any of the above, you should seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible in order to protect your interests. For a confidential discussion with a member of our team, please contact us on 0161 696 6250 or complete our online enquiry form.

loading staff

Ofsted team reorder

  • Francesca Snape
  • Chloe Parish
  • Laura Hannah
  • Carl Johnson
  • Alison Marriott
  • Paul Loughlin​​
  • Sean Joyce​
  • Elizabeth Groom
  • Jessica Macaulay
  • Cameron Stubbs