Data set from Expansion to early childcare entitlements: Childcare Experiences Survey

Section 2 - Reasons for not accessing the 30 hours funded working families childcare entitlement

Not the latest data

Published 1 September 2026

Last updated 1 September 2026

Reasons respondents were not using their 30 hours childcare entitlement.

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Data set details

• Theme: Early years
• Publication: Expansion to early childcare entitlements: Childcare Experiences Survey
• Release: Autumn term 2025/26 Fourth Wave
• Number of rows: 15
• Geographic levels: National
• Indicators:
  • Proportion of respondents
• Filters:
  • Demographic group
  • Reason not used working parents entitlement
• Time period: 2026

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Data set preview

Table showing first 5 rows, from underlying data

time_period	time_identifier	geographic_level	country_code	country_name	reason_not_used_entitlement	demographic	demographic_group	percent
2026	Reporting year	National	E92000001	England	I couldn’t find childcare that met our family’s needs	Total	Total	6.5
2026	Reporting year	National	E92000001	England	I couldn’t find a childcare provider where I could use the entitlement	Total	Total	3.9
2026	Reporting year	National	E92000001	England	I did not think the childcare provider would be able to meet my child’s special educational needs and/or disabilities	Total	Total	0
2026	Reporting year	National	E92000001	England	I had difficulties claiming my code	Total	Total	8.7
2026	Reporting year	National	E92000001	England	It does not make childcare more affordable for me	Total	Total	4.2

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Variables in this data set

Table showing all 3 variables

Variable name	Variable description
demographic_group	Demographic group
percent	Proportion of respondents
reason_not_used_entitlement	Reason not used working parents entitlement

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Footnotes

1. Percentages do not sum to 100, as respondents could select multiple options for this question.

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Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about Section 2 - Reasons for not accessing the 30 hours funded working families childcare entitlement statistics and data:

Early Years Entitlements Evaluation and Analysis Team

Email: Your.childcare@education.gov.uk
Contact name: Julia Moldawan

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