Childcare and early years survey of parents
Reporting year 2025

Description

This document describes the data sets included in this release, including information on data sources, coverage, quality and any data conventions used.

There are also a set of accompanying tables, referenced at times in the publication text, found under “Additional supporting files”.

The publication methodology section 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 15 and 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
- 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.
- * denotes a percentage value of less than 0.5% but greater than 0%.

Data files

Childcare use by children

Filename: ceysp25_childcare_use_v2_ts.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2025
Content summary: Share of children aged 0-4 using formal and informal childcare overtime.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
childcare_type  |  Childcare type
children_aged   |  Children aged
proportion      |  Percentage of children using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes:

1. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
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.


Childcare use by families

Filename: ceysp25_childcare_use_families_v3_ts.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2025
Content summary: Share of families with children aged 0-4 only, 0-4 and 5-14 and 0-14 only, using formal and informal childcare overtime.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  ------------------------------------------------
child_age       |  Child(ren) age
childcare_type  |  Childcare type
proportion      |  Percentage of families using childcare providers

Footnotes:

1. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
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.


Childcare use in school holidays

Filename: ceysp25_childcare_school_holidays_ts.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2025
Content summary: Share of families with school-age children using childcare during school holidays overtime.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  --------------
proportion         |  Proportion
type_of_childcare  |  Childcare type

Footnotes:

1. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
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.


Reasons not using childcare

Filename: ceysp25_reasons_not_using_families.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023 to 2025
Content summary: Reasons cited by parents for not using childcare in the last year by broad child ages

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 zero.


Changes to provision

Filename: ceysp25_changes_to_provision.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023 to 2025
Content summary: Changes to local childcare provision, if any, that would be most helpful for making it better suited to parents 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


Difficulty paying childcare costs

Filename: CEYSP25_difficulty_paying_TS.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2025
Content summary: Shares of parents finding it difficult or very difficult to meet their childcare costs by broad child ages overtime

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. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
4. 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.


Affordability of childcare

Filename: CEYSP25_affordability_age_TS.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2025
Content summary: Parents ratings of the affordability of local childcare overtime.

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. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
4. 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.


Home Learning Environment

Filename: CEYSP25_HLE_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017 to 2025
Content summary: Proportion of families engaging in home learning activities at least once a day overtime

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
----------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
activity    |  Home learning activities
proportion  |  Proportion of families engaging in HLE activities at least once a day, 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.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.


Home Learning Environment activities

Filename: CEYSP25_HLE_Activities.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Frequency with which children aged 0 to 5 years old engage in different home learning activities

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
----------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
activity    |  Home learning activities
frequency   |  Frequency with which children engage in home learning activities with someone at home
proportion  |  Proportion of families engaging in HL activities at least once a day, children aged 0-4


Maternal work

Filename: CEYSP25_Maternal_work_TS_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2025
Content summary: Maternal employment patterns overtime

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. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.


Work factors

Filename: CEYSP25_Work_Factors_0-4_5-14_All.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Factors that influence mothers going into work by broad child ages

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 zero.


Quality of childcare

Filename: CEYSP25_quality_age_TS.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2025
Content summary: Parents' perceptions of the quality of local childcare provision overtime

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. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
4. 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.


Availability of childcare

Filename: CEYSP25_availability_age_TS.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2025
Content summary: Parents perceptions of the availability of local childcare provision

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. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
4. 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.


Availability not enough

Filename: CEYSP25_availability_notenough_age_TS.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2010 to 2025
Content summary: Parents' perceptions of the availability of local childcare provision overtime

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. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.
4. 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.


Parent perceptions

Filename: CEYSP25_parent_perceptions_TS.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2008 to 2025
Content summary: Parents' perceptions of different aspects of local childcare provision overtime

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. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
3. 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.


Awareness of government support for 2 year olds

Filename: ceysp25_awareness_funded_support_2yo.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Awareness of funded support 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
family_annual_income  |  Family Annual Income
proportion            |  Proportion selecting reason


Funded childcare use by age

Filename: ceysp25_entitlements_use_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Use of funded childcare offers by child age

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name     |  Variable description
----------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
children_aged     |  Children aged
entitlement_type  |  Entitlement type
proportion        |  Percentage of children using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes:

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


Awareness of 9m2yo offer

Filename: ceysp25_awareness_funded_hours_9m2yo.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Awareness of funded support 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 funded hours offer
family_characteristic  |  Family and area characteristics
proportion             |  Proportion selecting reason


Satisfaction with funded hours

Filename: ceysp25_satisfaction_funded_hours.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Satisfaction with the use of funded childcare hours

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ---------------------------------------
childcare_offer  |  Childcare offer
proportion       |  Proportion selecting satisfaction level
satisfaction     |  Satisfaction


Impact of funded hours for children 9 months to 2 years

Filename: ceysp25_funded_hours_9m2yo_hours_impact_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Impact of funded childcare for 9 month to 2 year olds on parental employment

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  --------------------------------------
change_in_hours  |  Were the 15 hours offer not available…
children_aged    |  Children aged
proportion       |  Proportion


Awareness of 30 hours for 3 and 4 year olds

Filename: ceysp25_awareness_30_hours_34yo_v2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Awareness of funded support for 3 and 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


Impact of 30 hours for children aged 3 and 4 on work hours

Filename: ceysp25_30hours_34yo_work_impact.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Impact of funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds on parental work hours

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


Impact of funded hours for 9mto2yo on work choices

Filename: ceysp25_funded_hours_9mto2yo_work_choices.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Impact of funded childcare for 9 month to 2 year olds on parental employment choices

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
-------------  |  ----------------------------
children_aged  |  Children aged
proportion     |  Proportion
work_choice    |  Impact on employment choices
