Funded early education and childcare
Reporting year 2026

Description

This document describes the data included in the January 2026 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:

- the universal entitlement for all 3 and 4-year-olds;
- the working parent entitlement for children aged 9 months to 4 years;
- early learning for 2-year-olds (formerly known as the disadvantaged entitlement and then as the families receiving additional support 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 2026 (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 files 3a and 3b, national and regional numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10; therefore totals may not equal the sum of their component parts.

Data files

Headline figures

Filename: headline_figures_feeac_2011_2026.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2011 to 2026
Content summary: Headline statistics including children registered for and providers and staff delivering funded early years provision, by entitlement type.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                                  |  Variable description
---------------------------------------------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------
age                                            |  Entitlement type and 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_nursery_count                |  Estimated number of eligible children: nursery
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_private_voluntary_and_independent_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_percent                |  Estimated percentage of all children registered
registered_children_count                      |  Number of registered children
registered_children_nursery_count              |  Number of registered children: nursery
registered_children_reception_count            |  Number of registered children: reception
registered_eligible_children_nursery_percent   |  Estimated percentage of eligible nursery children registered
registered_eligible_children_percent           |  Estimated percentage of eligible children registered
staff_count                                    |  Number 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. 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.
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.
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.


1 Children registered and percentage of children registered

Filename: 1_feeac_children_registered_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
Content summary: Number and percentage of eligible children registered for funded early years provision by entitlement type and age.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                         |  Variable description
------------------------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------
age                                   |  Age
eligible_children_count               |  Estimated number of eligible children
entitlement_type                      |  Entitlement type
registered_children_count             |  Number of registered children
registered_eligible_children_percent  |  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_feeac_provider_type_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
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                        |  Age
provider_type              |  Type of provider
providers_count            |  Number of providers
registered_children_count  |  Number of registered children
year_group                 |  Entitlement type and 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. 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. 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. 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.


3a Children registered for early learning for two-year-olds by basis for funding

Filename: 3a_feeac_EL2_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
Content summary: Number of children registered for early learning for 2-year-olds by basis for funding.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                |  Variable description
---------------------------  |  ---------------------------------
basis_for_funding            |  Basis for funding
registered_children_count    |  Number of registered children
registered_children_percent  |  Percentage of registered children

Footnotes:

1. Children can be counted under more than one basis for funding if more than one applies.
2. 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.


3b Children in receipt of the early years pupil premium by basis for funding

Filename: 3b_feeac_EYPP_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
Content summary: Number of children in receipt of the early years pupil premium by entitlement type, age, and basis for funding.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                |  Variable description
---------------------------  |  ---------------------------------
age                          |  Age
basis_for_funding            |  Basis for funding
entitlement_type             |  Entitlement type
registered_children_count    |  Number of registered children
registered_children_percent  |  Percentage of registered children

Footnotes:

1. Children can be counted under more than one basis for funding if more than one applies.
2. No data on early years pupil premium or free school meals is available for children registered at general hospital schools.
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.


3c Children in reception in receipt of free school meals

Filename: 3c_feeac_FSM_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
Content summary: Number of children in reception in receipt of free school meals by age.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name              |  Variable description
-------------------------  |  -----------------------------
age                        |  Age
registered_children_count  |  Number of registered children

Footnotes:

1. Children (mainly 4-year-olds) in a state-funded reception class are considered to be registered for the universal entitlement.
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. No data on early years pupil premium or free school meals is available for children registered at general hospital schools.
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.


4 Children registered by ethnicity and SEN provision

Filename: 4_feeac_ethnicity_sen_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
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                          |  Age
ethnicity_major              |  Major ethnic group - Cross-tabulations with SEN available at national level only
registered_children_count    |  Number of registered children
registered_children_percent  |  Percentage of registered children
sen_provision                |  Special educational needs (SEN) provision - Cross-tabulations with ethnicity available at national level only
year_group                   |  Entitlement type and 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. No data on ethnicity or SEN provision is available for children registered at general hospital schools.
5. The 'Unknown' category describes cases where the child's ethnicity was refused or not obtained. These children are included in the 'Total' numbers.
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 All schools and PVI providers

Filename: 5_feeac_schools_pvis_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
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                |  Age
entitlement_type   |  Entitlement type
provider_sub_type  |  Sub-type of provider
provider_type      |  Type of provider
providers_count    |  Number of providers

Footnotes:

1. 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.
2. 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.
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 PVI staff by highest qualification

Filename: 6_feeac_staff_qualifications_pvis_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
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
pvi_provider_type      |  Type of PVI provider
staff_count            |  Number of staff
staff_percent          |  Percentage of staff

Footnotes:

1. 'Total' includes staff without a level 2 qualification, level 3 qualification or accredited graduate status.
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. 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.
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.


7 PVI providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member

Filename: 7_feeac_graduate_staff_pvis_2018_2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018 to 2026
Content summary: Number of PVIs delivering 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
------------------------------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
graduate_staff_providers_count              |  Number of providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
graduate_staff_providers_percent            |  Percentage of providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
graduate_staff_registered_children_count    |  Number of registered children at providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
graduate_staff_registered_children_percent  |  Percentage of children registered at providers with at least one accredited graduate staff member
providers_count                             |  Number of providers
pvi_provider_type                           |  Type of PVI provider - National level only
registered_children_count                   |  Number of registered children

Footnotes:

1. 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.
2. 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.
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.
