Seven of Hertfordshire's looked-after children were placed in illegal "unregistered" placements last year, according to data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

By law, all children's homes have to be registered with Ofsted to ensure providers meet the required standards.

And it is illegal, under the Care Standards Act (2000), to provide accommodation to children without being registered – even if a registration is pending.

Although the vast majority of Hertfordshire's looked-after children were placed with approved foster carers or in registered residential care homes last year, the data shows that seven were not.

In 2025, one child was placed in one of the council's own residential children's homes that was awaiting Ofsted registration, while another with specialist medical needs was in a home registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Five children were said to have been cared for in unregistered solo placements, "due to their needs".

County council officials stress that "unregistered" placements are only used in "exceptional circumstances".

And they emphasise that they maintain "close oversight" of all children in such placements.

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They say that on average, there was one Hertfordshire child living in an unregistered children's home at any one point in the last two years.

And last year, the seven unregistered placements, according to the county council, lasted between one night and five months.

This week (as of June 9), the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands there are four Hertfordshire children who are currently being cared for in unregistered placements.

Three of those children are living in a children's home that has submitted an application to Ofsted, but is waiting for a registration visit.

And, according to the county council, plans are already in place for the fourth child to be moved to a registered placement.

Commenting on the council's continuing use of unregistered placements, a spokesperson for the county council said: "Hertfordshire County Council is fully committed to ensuring that all children in our care are placed in safe, appropriate and well‑supported settings.

"The use of unregistered provision occurs only in exceptional circumstances, and solely when no suitable registered placement is immediately available.

"Such arrangements remain extremely limited in number, are reported to Ofsted, and are monitored.

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"Children placed in these settings receive comprehensive support within safe, closely supervised environments.

"We continue to work with urgency to secure registered placements for every child as soon as they become available."

Officials say that no legal action has been taken against the county council in this respect.

And they say they always inform Ofsted when a child is placed in unregistered provision and work closely with Ofsted to keep them up to date with regard to their plans, and letting then know when an unregistered placement has ended.

In addition, they say they often also seek advice from Ofsted as to whether provision could be classified as "unregistered".

Latest available data shows that, as of June 9, Hertfordshire cares for a total of 1,096 children.