Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children's Homes etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 and come into force on 1st April 2017.

(2) In these Regulations, "the principal Regulations" means the Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children's Homes etc.) Regulations 2015(4).

Substitution of fees payable under the principal Regulations

2.-(1) In each provision of the principal Regulations specified in column 1 of the table, for the amount specified in column 2 substitute the amount specified in column 3.

(2) "The table" means the table in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Amendment to size classification of children's homes

3.  In regulation 23 (children's homes) -

(a)in paragraph (1)(b) for "33" substitute "31";

(b)in paragraph (1)(b)(ii) for "33^rd" substitute "31^st"; and

(c)in paragraph (1)(c) for "33" substitute "31".

Frequency of inspections

4.  (1) In regulation 27 (frequency of inspections) -

(a)in paragraph (1)(a), for "(2) and (3)" substitute "(2), (3), (3A) and (3B)";

(b)after paragraph (3) insert -

"(3A) Where in any year an inspection in that year results in a report prepared under section 32(5) of the Care Standards Act 2000(5):

(a)which records a judgement that the overall experiences and progress of children and young people living in a children's home are good or outstanding; and

(b)there has been no subsequent inspection in that year resulting in a report prepared under that Act which records a judgement that the overall experiences and progress of the children and young people are less than good,

the Chief Inspector must arrange for that home to be inspected at least once in the year following inspection.

(3B) Subsection (3A) does not apply to accommodation in a children's home approved by the Secretary of State under regulation 3 of the Children (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991(6).".

Regulation 2

SCHEDULESUBSTITUTION OF FEES PAYABLE UNDER THE PRINCIPAL REGULATIONS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations apply to England only.

Regulation 2 and the Schedule increase certain fees payable under Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children's Homes etc.) Regulations 2015 (S.I.2015/551).

In particular, they increase the fees that are payable to the Chief Inspector in respect of-

• registration of voluntary adoption agencies, adoption support agencies, children's homes, residential family centres and fostering agencies;

• variation of registration of those establishments and agencies.

They also increase the annual fees payable by the above establishments and agencies as well as those payable by boarding schools, residential colleges, residential special schools and in respect of local authority adoption and fostering functions.

Regulation 4 reduces the frequency at which children's homes, other than secure children's homes, judged good or outstanding by the Chief Inspector must be inspected, from at least twice a year to at least once per year.

An Impact Assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has minimal impact on business or civil society organisations. The instrument has minimal impact on the public sector.