Reporting year 2025

Childcare and early years provider survey

Statistics on the characteristics of early years providers in England.

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• Produced by: Department for Education
• Published: 11 December 2025
• Last updated: 15 December 2025

1 update

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41 data sets available for download

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• Headline stats

  National

  The total number of childcare providers, registered places and paid staff. Mean parent-paid fees charged by providers for children aged under 2, children aged 2 and children aged 3 and 4.

  • Number of rows: 1
  • Indicators:
    • Total estimated number of childcare providers in England with at least one child aged 0-4 registered with them
    • Total estimated number of registered childcare places in England
    • Total estimated number of paid childcare staff
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 0 - Weighting methodology comparison

  National

  Table comparing key stats on group-based providers from 2024, to show the impact of changing the survey weighting methodology to account for provider size

  • Number of rows: 2
  • Indicators:
    • Number of registered places
    • Mean registered places per provider
    • Number of booked full-day places
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
    • Weighting methodology
  • Time period: 2024

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• Section 0 - Imputing missing data

  National

  Table showing registered and booked places by provider type from 2024, to show the impact of imputing missing data. All data in this table were calculated under the new weighting methodology introduced in 2025.

  • Number of rows: 6
  • Indicators:
    • Number of registered places
    • Mean registered places per provider
    • Number of booked full-day places
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
    • Whether missing data imputed
  • Time period: 2024

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• Section 1 - Number of providers

  National

  A time series of the number of providers, broken down by provider type

  • Number of rows: 42
  • Indicators:
    • Number of providers
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 1 - Number of providers by region

  Regional

  A breakdown of the number of providers by region and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 27
  • Indicators:
    • Number of providers
    • Proportion of providers
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 1 - Number of providers by deprivation band_rev

  National

  A breakdown of the number of providers by the level of deprivation in the area that the provider is located in and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 15
  • Indicators:
    • Number of providers
    • Proportion of providers
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Deprivation level
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 1 - Providers in a chain

  National

  The proportion of group-based providers that are part of a chain of providers.

  • Number of rows: 9
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of providers
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2023 to 2025

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• Section 2 - Booked full-day places

  National

  A time series of the number of booked full-day places, broken down by provider type.

  • Number of rows: 30
  • Indicators:
    • Number of bookings
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider and session type
  • Time period: 2019 to 2025

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• Section 2 - Number of registered places

  National

  A time series of the number of registered places, broken down by provider type.

  • Number of rows: 42
  • Indicators:
    • Number of places
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 2 - Proportion of registered places by age

  National

  A time series of children registered with childcare providers, with proportions broken down by age and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 21
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of children
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Age group
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 2 - Number of registered places by region

  Regional

  The number of registered places, broken down by region and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 45
  • Indicators:
    • Number of places
    • Proportion of places
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 2 - Number of registered places per provider

  National

  A time series of the number of registered places per provider, broken down by provider type.

  • Number of rows: 35
  • Indicators:
    • Mean number of places
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 2 - Spare places

  National

  Proportion of spare places at childcare providers

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of places that are surplus
    • Percentage of providers with one or more surplus place
  • Filters:
    • Provider and session type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 3 - Number of staff

  National

  A time series of the number of paid provider staff, broken down by provider type. Temporary staff are included but volunteer staff and apprentices are excluded.

  • Number of rows: 35
  • Indicators:
    • Number of staff
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 3 - Mean staff per provider

  National

  A time series of the mean number of paid staff per provider, broken down by provider type. Temporary staff are included but volunteer staff and apprentices are excluded.

  • Number of rows: 42
  • Indicators:
    • Number of staff
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 3 - Temporary, voluntary and apprentice staff

  National

  A time series of the proportion of providers that employ temporary staff, volunteer staff, and apprentices, and the number of each staff type that they employ.

  • Number of rows: 30
  • Indicators:
    • Number of apprentices
    • Number of temporary staff
    • Number of voluntary staff
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2021 to 2025

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• Section 3 - Childminders employing an assistant

  National

  A time series of the proportion of childminders employing an assistant.

  • Number of rows: 4
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage employing an assistant
    • Unweighted base
  • Time period: 2022 to 2025

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• Section 3 - Proportion of staff qualified to different levels

  National

  A time series of the proportion of paid staff qualified to different levels. Temporary staff are included but volunteer staff and apprentices are excluded.

  • Number of rows: 448
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of staff qualified to this level
  • Filters:
    • Highest level of qualification
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 3 - Staff turnover

  National

  A time series of staff turnover rates, broken down by provider type. Staff turnover rates are the number of staff who left employment during the period expressed as a percentage of the total number of staff employed at the start of the period.

  • Number of rows: 6
  • Indicators:
    • Staff turnover
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 3 - Staff by age

  National

  A breakdown of childcare staff by age and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 56
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of staff
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Age group
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2024 to 2025

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• Section 4 - Staff to child ratios for under 2s

  National

  A time series of the ratio of staff to children aged under 2 in group-based providers.

  • Number of rows: 45
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of providers
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
    • Staff : child ratio
  • Time period: 2021 to 2025

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• Section 4 - Staff to child ratios for 2 year olds

  National

  A time series of the ratio of staff to children aged 2 in group-based providers.

  • Number of rows: 48
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of providers
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
    • Staff : child ratio
  • Time period: 2022 to 2025

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• Section 4 - Staff to child ratios for 3 and 4 year olds

  National

  A time series of the ratio of staff to children aged 3 and 4 in group-based and school-based providers.

  • Number of rows: 125
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of providers
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
    • Staff : child ratio
  • Time period: 2021 to 2025

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• Section 5 - Breakdown of total provider costs

  National

  A breakdown of childcare providers' total costs into different categories

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Staffing costs
    • Rent or mortgage payments
    • Materials such as books, toys or equipment
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 5 - Percentage of staff earning below the National Living Wage by provider type

  National

  The proportion of staff paid below the National Living Wage, broken down by provider type.

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage earning below NLW
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 6 - 15 hour entitlement under 2 year olds

  National

  The proportion of registered under 2-year-olds funded through the 15-hour entitlement. See Section 6 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of children
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 6 - 15 hour entitlement 2 year olds

  National

  The proportion of registered 2-year-olds funded through the 15-hour working parent entitlement and the FRAS entitlement. See Section 6 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.

  • Number of rows: 14
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of children
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Entitlement type
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 6 - 15 hour entitlement 3 and 4 year olds

  National

  The proportion of registered 3- to 4-year-olds funded through the 15-hour entitlement. See Section 6 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of children
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 6 - 30 hour entitlement 3 and 4 year olds

  National

  The proportion of registered 3- to 4-year-olds funded through the 30-hour entitlement. See Section 6 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of children
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 6 - Proportion of providers where parents can use funded entitlements throughout the year

  National

  The proportion of providers that provide entitlements throughout the year. See Section 6 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.

  • Number of rows: 28
  • Indicators:
    • Parents can use funded hours during school term-time only
    • Parents can use funded hours throughout the year
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Entitlement type
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 6 - Proportion of providers where parents can use funded entitlements throughout the day

  National

  The proportion of providers that provide entitlements without any restrictions. See Section 6 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.

  • Number of rows: 28
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of providers that restrict funding in some way
    • Percentage of providers with no funding restrictions
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Entitlement type
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 6 - Parents using tax-free childcare

  National

  The proportion and average number of children with parents paying fees using Tax-Free Childcare, broken down by provider type.

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Mean number of parents paying using TFC
    • Proportion of parents paying using TFC
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 7 - Proportion of children with SEND

  National

  A time series of the proportion of children registered with providers with SEND, broken down by provider type.

  • Number of rows: 14
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of children with SEND
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2024 to 2025

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• Section 7 - Providers caring for children with SEND

  National

  A time series of the proportion of providers caring for at least one child with SEND, broken down by provider type.

  • Number of rows: 49
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of providers
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 8 - Parent paid fees by provider type

  National

  A time series of mean and median hourly fees charged by childcare providers to parents, broken down by child age and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 126
  • Indicators:
    • Mean hourly fee
    • Median hourly fee
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Child age
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2018 to 2025

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• Section 8 - Fees by child age and region

  Regional

  A time series of mean and median hourly fees charged by childcare providers to parents broken down by age, region and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 72
  • Indicators:
    • Mean hourly fee
    • Median hourly fee
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Age group
  • Time period: 2024 to 2025

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• Section 8 - Proportion of providers increasing fees

  National

  A time series of the proportion of providers who reported increasing fees charged to parents in the previous 12 months, broken down by child age and provider type. Caution: Sample sizes are small for under 2-year-olds at school-based providers.

  • Number of rows: 126
  • Indicators:
    • Percentage of providers increasing fees
  • Filters:
    • Age group
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2019 to 2025

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• Section 9 - Difference between provider fee and funding rate by region

  Regional

  A time series of the difference between mean hourly fees charged by childcare providers to parents and hourly funding rates paid by the government to childcare providers, broken down by region and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 27
  • Indicators:
    • Difference between mean funding rate and mean fee
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Age group
  • Time period: 2025

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• Section 8 - Mean and median fee by LA

  Local authority

  Mean and median parent-paid hourly fees broken down by child age and local authority. In order to help interpret the mean, the table shows 95% confidence intervals.

  • Number of rows: 604
  • Indicators:
    • Lower 95% CI
    • Mean hourly fee
    • Median hourly fee
  • Filters:
    • Age of child
  • Time period: 2024 to 2025

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• Section 9 - Mean and median funding rate by provider type

  National

  A time series of the mean and median hourly funding rates paid by the government to childcare providers, broken down by child age and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 54
  • Indicators:
    • Mean hourly funding rate
    • Median hourly funding rate
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Child age
    • Provider type
  • Time period: 2022 to 2025

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• Section 9 - Mean and median funding rate by region

  Regional

  A time series of the mean and median hourly funding rates paid by the government to childcare providers, broken down by child age, region and provider type.

  • Number of rows: 81
  • Indicators:
    • Mean hourly funding rate
    • Median hourly funding rate
    • Unweighted base
  • Filters:
    • Age group
  • Time period: 2022 to 2025

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Supporting files

Supporting files provide an area for teams to supply non-standard files for download by users where required.

3 supporting data files

• Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers 2025 - Accompanying Main Tables

  Tables to accompany the Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers 2025 release

  Download (xlsx, 362 Kb)

• Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers (SCEYP) 2025 - Technical Report

  This report provides detailed information about how the 2025 SCEYP was administered and how the findings or the Survey have been reported.

  Download (docx, 329 Kb)

• Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers 2025 - Accompanying fee and funding rate tables

  Fee and funding rate tables to accompany the Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers 2025 release

  Download (xlsx, 250 Kb)

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Data guidance

Description of the data sets included in this release, including information on data sources, coverage, quality and any data conventions used.

Description

These tables are derived from data collected on the 2025 Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers (SCEYP).  Where data for 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and / or 2024 are shown alongside 2025 data, these have been taken from the respective years' surveys.  There was no SCEYP in 2020.

Fieldwork for the 2025 SCEYP was carried out between May and July 2025.

Three different types of childcare provider are covered by the survey:

Childminders: Ofsted-registered childminders providing early years childcare and operating on domestic settings.  The sample of childminders was drawn from Ofsted's Early Years Register.  Childminders registered with a childminder agency were not included in the survey.

School-based childcare providers. The sample of school-based childcare providers was drawn from the School Census.  The two types of school-based provider covered by the survey are:

• Maintained nursery schools: These are purpose-built maintained schools specifically for children in their early years and with a qualified teacher present.
• Nursery class childcare settings: These are other maintained schools, and non-maintained schools, offering nursery provision.

Group-based providers These are other childcare providers (such as playgroups and day nurseries) operating on non-domestic premises.  The sample of group-based childcare providers was drawn from Ofsted's Early Years Register. The two main types of group-based providers covered by the survey are:

• Private group-based providers: These are private companies and include employer-run childcare for employees.
• Voluntary group-based providers: These are voluntary organisations, including community groups, charities, churches, or religious groups.

There are a smaller number of “other group-based providers” (run by, for instance, colleges, local authorities, “private not-for-profit” organisations etc.)  

A full description of SCEYP methodology, and the different providers covered, is provided in the Technical Report available in the  methodology section and available for download from the “supporting files” section of the release.

In addition to the tables shown here, further tables are available.  In some cases, these provide a more detailed breakdown of the data published in this report.  In other cases, they cover additional topics to those covered by the report.  These tables can be found in the “supporting files” section of this release.

Coverage

All figures refer to England

File formats and conventions

Figures that are based on an “unweighted base” (i.e. sample size) of less than 10 are not shown in the files.

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Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about Childcare and early years provider survey statistics and data:

Early years and childcare research and analysis

Email: EY.AnalysisANDResearch@education.gov.uk
Contact name: John Canlin

Press office

If you have a media enquiry:

Telephone: 020 7783 8300

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If you have a general enquiry about the Department for Education (DfE) or education:

Phone: 0370 000 2288

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