Childcare and early years survey of parents
Reporting year 2023

Description

The publication methodology, available on the publication report, should be referenced alongside this data. It provides methodological information on the survey design, sample, fieldwork, data analysis, interpretation, weighting and definitions used.

Coverage

This publication provides information on a survey of parents with children aged 0 to 14 in England. It covers parents’ use of childcare and early years provision, and their views and experiences, including:

- what childcare is used by different types of families
- what childcare is used by different types of families and children
- changes in take-up of childcare over the years
- parents’ reasons for using or not using childcare and for choosing particular providers
- parents’ views on the providers they used and on childcare provision in their local area in general
- the perceived impacts of the 30 hours of childcare policy on families and children
- the influence of childcare arrangements on mothers’ decisions about whether to go out to work and working patterns
- children’s use of digital technology in the home learning environment

File formats and conventions

- z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.
- x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
- * means the figure rounds to 0, but is not 0.

Data files

Headline stats v2

Filename: ceysp23_headline_stats_v3.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: headlines stat 3

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any_0-4_2023           |  Proportion of children aged 0-4 using any childcare in 2023
Availability_0-4_2023  |  Proportion of families with children aged 0-4 who said that the availability of local childcare is ‘about right’
Factors_work_0-4       |  Proportion of working mothers of 0-4-year-olds who said that having reliable childcare helped them go to work
Formal_0-4_2023        |  Proportion of children aged 0-4 using formal childcare in 2023
Formal_5-14_2023       |  Proportion of children aged 5-14 using formal childcare in 2023
Quality_0-4_2023       |  Proportion of families with children aged 0-4 who said that the quality of local childcare is ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ good:


Headline stats

Filename: ceysp23_headline_stats.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: headline stat 1

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any_0-14_2022      |  Proportion of children aged 0-14 using any childcare in 2022
Any_0-4_2022       |  Proportion of children aged 0-4 using any childcare in 2022
Factors_work_0-14  |  Proportion of working mothers of 0-14-year-olds who said that having reliable childcare helping them go to work
Factors_work_0-4   |  Proportion of working mothers of 0-4-year-olds who said that having reliable childcare helping them go to work


1. Childcare use by children (aged 0 to 4)

Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_0_4_ts.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: The proportion of children aged 0-4 using childcare in the most recent term time week by year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Childcare_type  |  Childcare type
Proportion      |  Percentage of children aged 0-4 using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes:

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.


1. Childcare use by children (aged 5 to 11)

Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_5_11_ts.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: The proportion of children aged 5-11 using childcare in the most recent term time week by year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Childcare_type  |  Childcare type
Proportion      |  Percentage of children aged 5-11 using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes:

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.


1. Childcare use by children (aged 12 to 14)

Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_12_14_ts.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: The proportion of children aged 12-14 using childcare in the most recent term time week by year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Childcare_type  |  Childcare type
Proportion      |  Percentage of children aged 12-14 using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes:

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.


1. Childcare use by families (with children aged 0 to 4)

Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_0_4_ts_families.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with children aged 0-4 using childcare in the most recent term-time week by year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Childcare_type  |  Childcare type
Proportion      |  Percentage of families using childcare providers among families with children aged 0 to 4 years

Footnotes:

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.


1. Childcare use by families (with children aged 5 to 14)

Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_5_14_ts_families.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with children aged 5-14 using childcare in the most recent term-time week by year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Childcare_type  |  Childcare type
Proportion      |  Percentage of families using childcare providers among families with just children aged 5 to 14 years

Footnotes:

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.


1. Childcare use during school holidays by families

Filename: ceysp23_childcare_school_holidays_ts_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2023
Content summary: Proportion of families using childcare during the school holidays

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  --------------
Proportion         |  Proportion
Type_of_childcare  |  Childcare type

Footnotes:

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.
5. z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.


1. Reasons for not using childcare

Filename: ceysp23_reasons_not_using_families_0-4_5-14_all.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families who had not used any childcare in the last year selecting various reasons for not doing so

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name              |  Variable description
-------------------------  |  ------------------------------------
Age_of_children_in_family  |  Age of children in family
Proportion                 |  Proportion selecting each response
Reason                     |  Reason selected
Type_of_reason             |  Type of reason: choice or constraint

Footnotes:

1. * denotes a percentage value of less than 0.5% but greater than 0%.


1. Changes to childcare provision by age of child

Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision_0-4_5-14_all_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 saying that various changes to childcare arrangements would make it better suited to their needs.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change                 |  Changes to childcare provision that would make it better suited to parents’ needs
Family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
Proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


2. Impact of the 30 hours offer on work

Filename: ceysp23_30hours_work_impact.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: Impact of the 30 hours childcare offer on work

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------
Proportion          |  Perceived impact of the 30 hours offer on work
Response_breakdown  |  Response options


2. Awareness of 15 hours entitlement

Filename: ceysp23_awareness_15_hours.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: Awareness of the 15 hours childcare entitlement

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  -------------------------------
Awareness              |  Awareness of the 15 hours offer
Family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
Proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


2. Awareness of 15 hours entitlement for 2YO

Filename: ceysp23_awareness_15_hours_2yo_v4.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with with a two-year old child who are aware of the 15 hours offer for 2 year olds.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
----------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awareness   |  Awareness of the entitlement to government funded early education for 2-year-olds
Child_Age   |  Age of children in family
Proportion  |  Proportion selecting reason


2. Awareness of 30 hours entitlement

Filename: ceysp23_awareness_30_hours.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 who are aware of the 30 hours offer for 3 to 4 year olds.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  -------------------------------
Awareness              |  Awareness of the 30 hours offer
Family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
Proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


2. Awareness of new entitlements

Filename: ceysp23_awareness_30_hours_new.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with child(ren) aged 0 to 2 who are aware of the new 30 hours offer for 9 month to 2 year olds.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  -----------------------------------
Awareness              |  Awareness of the new 30 hours offer
Family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
Proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


3. Perceptions of affordability by age of child

Filename: ceysp23_affordability_age_ts_v3.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: How families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 rate the affordability of local childcare.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age_of_children  |  Age of children in family
Proportion       |  Percentage of parents rating the affordability of local childcare as very or fairly good

Footnotes:

1. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.


3. Difficulty paying for childcare

Filename: ceysp23_difficulty_paying_ts_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2023
Content summary: How families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 rate the difficulty of paying for local childcare.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age_of_children  |  Age of children in family
Proportion       |  Proportion of parents finding it difficult or very difficult to meet their childcare costs

Footnotes:

1. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.


4. Perceptions of availability by age of child

Filename: ceysp23_availability_age_ts_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2023
Content summary: How families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 perceive the availability of local childcare.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age_of_children  |  Age of children in family
Proportion       |  Percentage of parents saying the availability of local childcare places is ‘about right’

Footnotes:

1. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.


4. Perceptions of availability by age of child (not enough local places)

Filename: ceysp23_availability_age_ts_notenough_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: How many families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 perceive there to not be enough local childcare places.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age_of_children  |  Age of children in family
Proportion       |  Percentage of parents saying the availability of local childcare places is ‘not enough’

Footnotes:

1. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.


4. Changes to provision

Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families saying that various changes to childcare provision would make it better

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change                 |  Changes to childcare provision that would make it better suited to parents’ needs
Family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
Proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


4. Changes to provision (ages 0 to 4)

Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision_0-4.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with children aged 0 to 4 only saying that various changes to childcare provision would make it better

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change                 |  Changes to childcare provision that would make it better suited to parents’ needs
Family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
Proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


4. Changes to provision (ages 0 to 4, 5 to 14, All)

Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision_0-4_5-14_all.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families with children aged 0 to 4 only, both 0 to 4 and 5 to 14, and 5 to 14, saying that various changes to childcare provision would make it better

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change                 |  Changes to childcare provision that would make it better suited to parents’ needs
Family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
Proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


4. Parent perceptions

Filename: ceysp23_parent_perceptions_ts_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2004 to 2023
Content summary: Parental perceptions on local childcare

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  ------------------
Proportion          |  Proportion
Response_breakdown  |  Response selected
Type_of_perception  |  Type of perception

Footnotes:

1. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.


4.Perceptions of quality by age of child

Filename: ceysp23_quality_age_ts_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2023
Content summary: Parental perceptions on the quality of local childcare by child age

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age_of_children  |  Age of children in family
Proportion       |  Percentage of parents rating the quality of local childcare as very or fairly good

Footnotes:

1. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.


5. Home Learning Environment

Filename: ceysp23_hle_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017 to 2023
Content summary: The proportion of families saying that they engage in various home learning activities at least once a day, by year

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
----------  |  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity    |  Home learning activities
Proportion  |  Proportion of families engaging in home learning activities at least once a day, among children aged 0-4

Footnotes:

1. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.


5. Home Learning Environment Activities

Filename: ceysp23_hle_activities.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: The frequency with which parents engage in various home-learning activities with their children

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
----------  |  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity    |  Home learning activities
Frequency   |  Frequency
Proportion  |  Proportion of families engaging in home learning activities at least once a day, among children aged 0-4


6. Maternal work

Filename: ceysp23_maternal_work_ts.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2023
Content summary: The proportion of mothers reporting that they were working

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name            |  Variable description
-----------------------  |  ---------------------------------------
Mothers_working_pattern  |  Mothers working pattern
Proportion               |  Percentage of mothers working FT and PT

Footnotes:

1. 2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.


6. Work factors

Filename: ceysp23_work_factors.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: Factors that influence the decision to work

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
----------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------
Proportion  |  Proportion selecting reason
Reason      |  Childcare arrangements that helped mothers to go out to work


6. Work factors by age of child

Filename: ceysp23_work_factors_0-4_5-14_all.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023
Content summary: Factors that influence the decision to work by child age

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name              |  Variable description
-------------------------  |  ---------------------------
Age_of_children_in_family  |  Age of children in family
Proportion                 |  Proportion selecting reason
Reason                     |  Reason selected

Footnotes:

1. * denotes a percentage value of less than 0.5% but greater than 0%.
