Funded early education and childcare
Reporting year 2025

Description

This document describes the data included in the January 2025 statistics release ‘Funded early education and childcare'.

This data is released under the terms of the Open Government Licence (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-government-transparency-and-accountability/2010-to-2015-government-policy-government-transparency-and-accountability#appendix-3-releasing-data-in-open-and-anonymised-formats).

The methodology page (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-methodology) should be referenced alongside this data.

Coverage

These annual January statistics report on children under 5 registered for government funded entitlements in England and on providers and staff delivering them. Specifically, the:

- universal entitlement for all 3 and 4-year-olds
- working parent entitlement for eligible children aged 9 months to 4 years (expanded from April 2024 to include eligible 2-year-olds and expanded from September 2024 to include eligible children aged 9 to 23 months)
- the families receiving additional support (FRAS) entitlement for eligible 2-year-olds (formerly known as the disadvantaged entitlement).

Data is collected from local authorities covering state-funded schools (including nurseries), via the spring  school census (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-the-school-census) and from private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers (including childminders) via the  early years census (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-the-early-years-census). In addition, general hospital schools data is collected via the  school-level annual school census (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-hospital-school-census-guide-to-submitting-data).

The underlying data files include national, regional, and local authority level information for the years 2018 to 2025 (and back to 2011 in the headline figures file).

File formats and conventions

Symbology

The following symbols are used in the underlying data files as follows:

     z           data not applicable

     x           data is unavailable for unknown or other reasons

     c           suppressed to protect confidential information

     low      rounds to 0, but is not 0

Where any number is shown as zero, the original figure submitted was zero.

Rounding

In the headline statistics file, the numbers of children eligible for the working parent entitlement have been rounded to the nearest 1000 and the percentages of eligible children registered have been rounded to the nearest percentage. In data file 3, regional numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10; therefore regional numbers may not sum to national totals.

Data files

Headline figures

Filename: headline_figures_early_years_provision_2011_2025.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2011 to 2025
Content summary: Headline statistics including children registered for and providers and staff delivering entitlements, by entitlement type.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                             |  Variable description
----------------------------------------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------
age                                       |  Age
all_children_count                        |  Estimated number of all children
childminders_count                        |  Number of childminders
eligible_children_count                   |  Estimated number of eligible children
eligible_children_legacy_benefit_count    |  Estimated number of eligible children: legacy benefit
eligible_children_universal_credit_count  |  Estimated number of eligible children: universal credit
independent_schools_count                 |  Number of independent schools
local_authority_day_nurseries_count       |  Number of local authority day nurseries
other_pvis_count                          |  Number of other private, voluntary and independent providers
private_and_voluntary_providers_count     |  Number of private and voluntary providers
providers_count                           |  Number of providers
registered_all_children_rate              |  Estimated percentage of all children registered
registered_children_count                 |  Number of registered children
registered_children_reception_count       |  Number of registered children: reception
registered_eligible_children_rate         |  Estimated percentage of eligible children registered
staff_count                               |  Numbers of staff
state_funded_governor_run_count           |  Number of state-funded governor run providers
state_funded_schools_count                |  Number of state-funded schools

Footnotes:

1. Children attending a general hospital school and a small number of children attending a special school do not follow the national curriculum. These children are included in totals but not breakdowns by year group.
2. Where children under 4 years of age are recorded as in reception, this may be because they attend a school with a mixed-year class, because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial to start reception year early, or for another reason.
3. A very small number of children under 5 years of age are registered in a higher year group than reception. This may be because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial for the child, or for another reason. These children have been included in the reception category.
4. Since 2019, data cleaning exercises with local authorities each year have improved data quality. Provider types have become more accurately recorded over the years and caution should therefore be taken when comparing changes in provider types between years, particularly for childminders and state-funded governor run provision, which has been reclassified from other in some instances.
5. State-funded governor-run provision is included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.
6. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.
7. Local authority day nurseries are included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.


1 Children registered and take-up rates

Filename: 1_early_years_provision_children_registered_2018_2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2025
Content summary: Number and percentage of eligible children registered for government-funded early years provision by entitlement type and age.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                 |  Variable description
----------------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------
age                           |  Entitlement type and age
number_children               |  Number of registered children
number_eligible_children      |  Estimated number of eligible children
percentage_eligible_children  |  Estimated percentage of eligible children registered

Footnotes:

1. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.


2 Children registered and providers by provider type

Filename: 2_early_years_provision_provider_type_2018_2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2025
Content summary: Number of children registered for and number of providers delivering funded early years provision by entitlement type, age, year group, & provider type. PVIs figures exclude providers where no child accessed all or the majority of their entitlement.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name     |  Variable description
----------------  |  -----------------------------
age               |  Entitlement type and age
number_children   |  Number of registered children
number_providers  |  Number of providers
provider_type     |  Type of provider
year_group        |  Year group

Footnotes:

1. Children attending a general hospital school and a small number of children attending a special school do not follow the national curriculum. These children are included in totals but not breakdowns by year group.
2. Where children under 4 years of age are recorded as in reception, this may be because they attend a school with a mixed-year class, because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial to start reception year early, or for another reason.
3. A very small number of children under 5 years of age are registered in a higher year group than reception. This may be because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial for the child, or for another reason. These children have been included in the reception category.
4. Some state-funded nursery schools have a reception class and/or some children may continue to attend their state-funded nursery school in reception year until they are ready for primary school.
5. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.


3 Children registered by disadvantaged status

Filename: 3_early_years_provision_disadvantaged_children_2018_2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2025
Content summary: Number of children registered for funded early years provision by entitlement type, age, year group, disadvantage type and basis for funding.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  --------------------------------
age                |  Entitlement type and age
basis_for_funding  |  Basis for funding
disadvantage_type  |  Year group and disadvantage type
number_children    |  Number of registered children

Footnotes:

1. Children attending a general hospital school and a small number of children attending a special school do not follow the national curriculum. These children are included in totals but not breakdowns by year group.
2. Where children under 4 years of age are recorded as in reception, this may be because they attend a school with a mixed-year class, because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial to start reception year early, or for another reason.
3. A very small number of children under 5 years of age are registered in a higher year group than reception. This may be because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial for the child, or for another reason. These children have been included in the reception category.
4. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.
5. No data on early years pupil premium or free school meals is available for children registered at general hospital schools.
6. Children can be counted under more than one basis for funding if more than one applies.


4 Children registered by ethnicity and SEN provision

Filename: 4_early_years_provision_ethnicity_sen_2018_2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2025
Content summary: Number of children registered for funded early years provision by entitlement type, age, year group, ethnicity and SEN provision.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  -----------------------------------------
age                  |  Entitlement type and age
ethnicity_major      |  Major ethnic group
number_children      |  Number of registered children
percentage_children  |  Percentage of registered children
sen_provision        |  Special educational needs (SEN) provision
year_group           |  Year group

Footnotes:

1. Children attending a general hospital school and a small number of children attending a special school do not follow the national curriculum. These children are included in totals but not breakdowns by year group.
2. Where children under 4 years of age are recorded as in reception, this may be because they attend a school with a mixed-year class, because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial to start reception year early, or for another reason.
3. A very small number of children under 5 years of age are registered in a higher year group than reception. This may be because the local authority has agreed it would be beneficial for the child, or for another reason. These children have been included in the reception category.
4. The 'Unknown' category describes cases where the child's ethnicity was refused or not obtained. These children are included in the 'Total' numbers.
5. No data on ethnicity or SEN provision is available for children registered at general hospital schools.
6. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.


5 Children registered by Ofsted judgement at provider

Filename: 5_early_years_provision_ofsted_2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Number of children registered for funded early years provision by age and provider's Ofsted inspection judgement.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  ---------------------------------
age                  |  Age
number_children      |  Number of registered children
ofsted_judgement     |  Ofsted inspection judgement
percentage_children  |  Percentage of registered children

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are based upon those providers with a matched and identified Ofsted judgement (i.e. excludes 'No match found'). The four available judgements sum to 100% (may not be exact due to rounding).
2. 'No match found' includes state-funded schools, as from September 2024, graded inspections of state-funded schools have no longer included an overall effectiveness grade.
3. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.


6 All schools and PVI providers

Filename: 6_early_years_provision_schools_pvis_2018_2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2025
Content summary: Number of providers delivering funded early years provision by entitlement type, age and provider type. PVIs figures include all providers.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  ------------------------
age                  |  Entitlement type and age
number_providers     |  Number of providers
provider_sub_type    |  Sub-type of provider
provider_type        |  Type of provider
provider_type_group  |  Type of provider group

Footnotes:

1. Since 2019, data cleaning exercises with local authorities each year have improved data quality. Provider types have become more accurately recorded over the years and caution should therefore be taken when comparing changes in provider types between years, particularly for childminders and state-funded governor run provision, which has been reclassified from other in some instances.
2. State-funded governor-run provision is included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.
3. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.
4. Local authority day nurseries are included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.


7 PVI staff by highest qualification

Filename: 7_early_years_provision_staff_qualifications_pvis_2018_2025.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2018 to 2025
Content summary: Number of staff delivering funded early years provision at private, voluntary, and independent providers, by highest qualification and provider type.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ------------------------------
highest_qualification  |  Highest level of qualification
number_staff           |  Number of staff
percentage_staff       |  Percentage of staff
pvi_provider_type      |  Type of PVI provider

Footnotes:

1. Since 2019, data cleaning exercises with local authorities each year have improved data quality. Provider types have become more accurately recorded over the years and caution should therefore be taken when comparing changes in provider types between years, particularly for childminders and state-funded governor run provision, which has been reclassified from other in some instances.
2. 'Total' includes staff without a level 2 qualification, level 3 qualification or accredited graduate status.
3. State-funded governor-run provision is included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.
4. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.
5. Local authority day nurseries are included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.


8 PVI providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member

Filename: 8_early_years_provision_graduate_staff_pvis_2018_2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2025
Content summary: Number of PVIs delivering government-funded early years provision with at least one accredited graduate staff member, by provider type. PVIs figures exclude providers where no child accessed all or the majority of their entitlement.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                                 |  Variable description
--------------------------------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
number_children                               |  Number of registered children
number_children_providers_graduate_staff      |  Number of registered children at providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
number_providers                              |  Number of providers
number_providers_graduate_staff               |  Number of providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
percentage_children_providers_graduate_staff  |  Percentage of children registered at providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
percentage_providers_graduate_staff           |  Percentage of providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
pvi_provider_type                             |  Type of PVI provider - National level only

Footnotes:

1. Since 2019, data cleaning exercises with local authorities each year have improved data quality. Provider types have become more accurately recorded over the years and caution should therefore be taken when comparing changes in provider types between years, particularly for childminders and state-funded governor run provision, which has been reclassified from other in some instances.
2. State-funded governor-run provision is included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.
3. Data collected in 2021 (and to a lesser extent 2022) was affected by the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty on providers and parents. Further information is available on the methodology page.
4. Local authority day nurseries are included in the private, voluntary and independent providers category because data for these providers is returned on the early years census.
