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Number and percentage of eligible children registered for and number of providers delivering government-funded early years provision, by age and entitlement type. National timeseries back to 2015 for the 15-hour entitlement for 2-year-olds, 2011 for the 15-hour entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds, and 2018 for the 30-hour entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds.
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Data set details
- Theme
- Early years
- Publication
- Education provision: children under 5 years of age
- Release
- Reporting year 2024
- Release type
- Geographic levels
- National
- Indicators
- Number of registered children
- Estimate of eligible children
- Estimated percentage of eligible children registered
- Filters
- Age and entitlement type
- Time period
- 2011 to 2024
Data set preview
| time_period | time_identifier | geographic_level | country_code | country_name | entitlement_type | age | number_children | number_eligible_children | percentage_eligible_children | number_providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | 15-hour entitlement | 2-year-olds | 115900 | 155000 | 75 | 20600 |
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | 15-hour entitlement | 3 and 4-year-olds | 1169500 | 1231900 | 95 | 45900 |
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | 30-hour entitlement | 3 and 4-year-olds | 361800 | z | z | 35100 |
| 2023 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | 15-hour entitlement | 2-year-olds | 124200 | 168000 | 74 | 21000 |
| 2023 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | 15-hour entitlement | 3 and 4-year-olds | 1196000 | 1276100 | 94 | 46200 |
Variables in this data set
| Variable name | Variable description |
|---|---|
| age | Age and entitlement type |
| number_children | Number of registered children |
| number_eligible_children | Estimate of eligible children |
| number_providers | Number of providers |
| percentage_eligible_children | Estimated percentage of eligible children registered |
Footnotes
- The estimated number of eligible 2-year-olds is derived from data supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions each November. It represents the best data available on the number of children meeting the benefit and tax credit eligibility criteria.
- Population estimates for 3 and 4-year-olds from 2013 onwards are likely overestimates to some extent, and therefore the derived take-up rates are likely underestimates. Therefore the 3 and 4-year-old take-up rates need to be treated with caution. The population estimates and take-up rates back to 2013 will be revised following ONS publication of a full and consistent timeseries based on Census 2021 population data. See methodology for more information.
- Children who split their entitlement across more than one private, voluntary or independent provider are only counted at the provider where they spend the majority of their time.
- 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 in the methodology note.
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