BetaThis is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it.
Reporting year 2023
Childcare and early years provider survey
Data guidance
Published
Description
These tables are derived from data collected on the 2023 Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers (SCEYP). Where data for 2018, 2019, 2021 and / or 2022 are shown alongside 2023 data, these have been taken from the respective years' surveys. There was no SCEYP in 2020.
Fieldwork for the 2023 SCEYP was carried out between April and July 2023.
SCEYP surveyed three types of providers:
School-based providers include maintained nursery schools, and other schools that offer nursery as well as other provision.
Group-based providers are providers registered with Ofsted and operating on non-domestic premises. Most of the tables show a split between private and voluntary sector providers. There are a small group of “other” group-based providers (providers run by local authorities and “private not-for-profit” providers such as community interest companies). These are shown in a small number of tables, for instance a “headline” table, showing the total number of childcare providers, broken down by type of provider. In other tables, “other” group-based providers are not separately identified but include in the “group-based provider” total.
Ofsted-registered childminders providing early years care and operating in domestic settings (childminders registered with a childminder agency were not surveyed).
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.
Data files
All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.
Number of providers
Filename
sceyp23_number_of_providers.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2018 to 2023
Content
A time series of the number of providers, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
number
Number of providers
provider_type
Provider type
Footnotes
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. They may not add up to totals due to rounding.
See "Further information" for an explanation of the difference between the numbers in this chart, and the number of group-based providers and childminders on the Ofsted register and the number of schools in the School Census.
A breakdown of the number of providers by region and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
number
Number of providers
proportion
Proportion of providers
provider_type
Provider type
Footnotes
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. They may not add up to totals due to rounding.
[u] Statistics based on an "unweighted base" (sample size) of less than 10 are not shown. Statistics based on an "unweighted base" of 10 or greater but less than 30 should be treated with caution and are only indicative.
The proportion of group-based providers that are part of a chain of providers.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Percentage of providers
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Due to differences between the way that the survey was completed in 2023 and the way that previous years' surveys were completed, figures in this table cannot be compared with those for previous years
Mean provider opening hours, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
mean
Mean number of hours
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
"Mean opening hours" are the difference between morning opening times and afternoon / evening closing times. Where a provider shuts at lunchtime, the time that it is shut for has not been deducted from its mean opening hours.
A time series of the number of registered places, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
number
Number of places
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. They may not add up to totals due to rounding.
The number of registered childminder places in 2023 is not directly comparable with figures for previous years. In the 2023 Survey, in order to be consistent with school-based and group-based providers, childminders were asked "How many children are you allowed to look after at one time?" In previous surveys, childminders were asked "How many places for children under the age of 8 have you personally got registered with Ofsted?" These questions are slightly different because although, in order to offer childcare places, childminders need to register these places with Ofsted, this is only the case for places for children aged under 8.
Figures for school-based providers refer to full-day nursery places - places in before-school and after-school childcare are excluded.
A time series of the number of registered places per provider, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
average_places
Mean number of places
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
The number of registered childminder places in 2023 is not directly comparable with figures for previous years. In the 2023 Survey, in order to be consistent with school-based and group-based providers, childminders were asked "How many children are you allowed to look after at one time?" In previous surveys, childminders were asked "How many places for children under the age of 8 have you personally got registered with Ofsted?" These questions are slightly different because although, in order to offer childcare places, childminders need to register these places with Ofsted, this is only the case for places for children aged under 8.
Figures for school-based providers refer to full-day nursery places - places in before-school and after-school childcare are excluded.
The percentage of providers with one or more surplus place, and the number and percentage of places that are surplus, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
ave_places
Mean number of surplus places per provider
percent_places
Percentage of places that are surplus
percent_providers
Percentage of providers with one or more surplus place
provider_type
Provider and session type
total_places
Total number of surplus places
Footnotes
"Total number of surplus places" has been rounded to the nearest 100. Figures may not add up to totals due to rounding.
Figures refer to spare places at providers offering each specific type of provision i.e. they include providers who offer that type of provision but have no spare capacity, but not providers who do not offer that type of provision.
Figures refer to providers offering each specific type of provision. Providers who do not offer that type of provision are excluded.
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.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
number_staff
Number of staff
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. They may not add up to totals due to rounding.
Includes temporary staff but excludes volunteer staff and apprentices. Staff that do not work directly with children e.g. administrative staff are excluded.
"Childminding staff" refers to childminders and childminding assistants
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.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
mean_staff
Number of staff
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Includes temporary staff but excludes volunteer staff and apprentices. Staff that do not work directly with children e.g. administrative staff are excluded.
A time series of the proportion of apprentices employed at different levels.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percent_L2
Percentage at Level 2
percent_L3
Percentage at Level 3
percent_L5
Percentage at Level 5
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
[u] Statistics based on an "unweighted base" (sample size) of less than 10 are not shown. Statistics based on an "unweighted base" of 10 or greater but less than 30 should be treated with caution and are only indicative.
X - Information on Level 5 apprentices began to be collected in 2023
The number of staff recruited and leaving providers in the last 12 months. This refers to the number recruited to and leaving a particular provider, not necessarily the number recruited to and leaving the childcare sector as a whole.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
provider_type
Provider type
staff_leaving
Number of staff leaving providers
staff_recruited
Number of staff recruited to providers
Footnotes
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. They may not add up to totals due to rounding.
Refers to staff joining and leaving the provider that was surveyed - not necessarily the childcare sector as a whole
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.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
provider_type
Provider type
staff_turnover
Staff turnover
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Staff turnover rates are the number of paid childcare staff who left employment during the period expressed as a percentage of the total number of paid childcare staff employed at the start of the period.
The proportion of staff leaving childcare providers in the previous 12 months: to join another childcare provider; to work in a school (with children of school age); to work outside of childcare; to retire; and to go to an "other" destination, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
destination
Destination
proportion
Proportion of staff
provider_type
Provider type
Footnotes
Due to the small number of staff reported on the survey leaving maintained nursery schools, figures for "all school-based providers" are grouped together.
The proportion of staff leaving childcare providers in the last 12 months, broken down by their highest level of qualification and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
proportion
Proportion of staff
provider_type
Provider type
qual_level
Qualification level
Footnotes
A very small proportion of staff have an overseas qualification as their highest level of qualification. These staff are included in "no UK early years qualification".
Due to the small number of staff reported on the survey leaving maintained nursery schools, figures for "all school-based providers" are grouped together.
A time series of the proportion of paid staff qualified to different levels. Temporary staff are included but volunteer staff and apprentices are excluded.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percent
Proportion of staff qualified to this level
provider_type
Provider type
qual_level
Highest level of qualification
Footnotes
Includes temporary staff but excludes volunteer staff and apprentices. Staff that do not work directly with children e.g. administrative staff are excluded.
Figures show the highest level of qualification held in early years and teaching-related subjects.
A very small proportion of staff have an overseas qualification as their highest level of qualification. These staff are included in "no UK early years qualification".
A time series of the proportion of staff qualified to Level 6 who hold different Level 6 qualifications.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Proportion of staff who hold different Level 6 qualifications
provider_type
Provider Type
qual
Qualification
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
[u] Statistics based on an "unweighted base" (sample size) of less than 10 are not shown. Statistics based on an "unweighted base" of 10 or greater but less than 30 should be treated with caution and are only indicative.
It is possible to hold multiple qualifications at Level 6. As a result the sum across qualification types may exceed 100%.
A breakdown of childcare staff by gender and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
gender
Gender
percentage
Percentage of staff
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Includes temporary staff but excludes volunteer staff and apprentices. Staff that do not work directly with children e.g. administrative staff are excluded.
Due to the small number of males reported on the survey as working in maintained nursery schools and voluntary group-based providers, figures for these provider types are not shown in the tables. Instead, figures for "all school-based providers" and for "all group-based providers" are grouped together
A breakdown of childcare staff by ethnicity and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
ethnicity
Ethnicity
percentage
Percentage of staff
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Includes temporary staff but excludes volunteer staff and apprentices. Staff that do not work directly with children e.g. administrative staff are excluded.
[u] Statistics based on an "unweighted base" (sample size) of less than 10 are not shown. Statistics based on an "unweighted base" of 10 or greater but less than 30 should be treated with caution and are only indicative.
Due to the small number of non-"White British" staff reported on the survey as working in maintained nursery schools, figures for "all school-based providers" are grouped together.
A breakdown of childcare staff by age and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
age_group
Age group
percentage
Percentage of staff
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Includes temporary staff but excludes volunteer staff and apprentices. Staff that do not work directly with children e.g. administrative staff are excluded.
A time series of the ratio of staff to children aged 3 and 4 in group-based and school-based providers.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Percentage of providers
provider_type
Provider type
ratio
Staff : child ratio
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
A ratio of less than 1:8 is more generous than the statutory minimum as there are fewer children per member of staff. The statutory ratio is 1:13 if the staff member is qualified to Level 6.
The proportion of providers that are aware of and have used the exceptional circumstances allowance regarding staff to child ratios, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
aware_allownace
Awareness of allowance
percent_providers
Percentage of providers
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
[u] Statistics based on an "unweighted base" (sample size) of less than 10 are not shown. Statistics based on an "unweighted base" of 10 or greater but less than 30 should be treated with caution and are only indicative.
A breakdown of childcare providers' total costs into different categories
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
business_rates
Business rates
energy
Energy bills
food
Food costs
materials
Materials such as books, toys or equipment
other
Other costs
provider_type
Provider type
recruiting_staff
Recruiting staff
rent_mortage
Rent or mortgage payments
staff
Staffing costs
training
Training costs
Footnotes
Childminder costs are not directly comparable with group-based provider and school-based provider costs. Childminders were not asked about their rent / mortgage or energy bills, because they work from their own home and would have to pay at least some of these costs, even if they didn't run a childminding business. Childminder "staffing costs" are the sum of the amount that they pay their assistant(s) (if they have one) and the amount that they pay themselves in the form of a salary.
Childminders do not have to pay business rates.
"Nursery class childcare settings" often deliver classes to school-age children alongside their nursery provision. For these providers, it is difficult to estimate how much of the providers' overhead costs - such as energy bills and business rates - are accounted for by nursery classes and how much are accounted for by other parts of the school. Therefore, unlike group-based providers, who were asked to report them separately, for school-based providers these costs were reported in "other costs".
A time series of the number and proportion of providers providing childcare to one or more 2 year olds funded through the 15-hour entitlement. See Section 8 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Percentage of providers
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Excludes providers that do not look after any 2-year-old children
A time series of the number and proportion of providers providing childcare to one or more 3 and 4 year olds funded through the 15-hour entitlement. See Section 8 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Percentage of providers
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Excludes providers that do not look after any 3- or 4-year-old children
A time series of the number and proportion of providers providing childcare to one or more 3 and 4 year olds funded through the 30-hour entitlement. See Section 8 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Percentage of providers
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Excludes providers that do not look after any 3- or 4-year-old children
The proportion of providers that provide entitlements throughout the year. See Section 8 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
entitlement_type
Entitlement type
provider_type
Provider type
term_time_only
Parents can use funded hours during school term-time only
throughout_year
Parents can use funded hours throughout the year
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
There are a very small number of providers where parents can only use funded hours outside of the school term. These are excluded from the tables.
The proportion of providers that provide entitlements without any restrictions. See Section 8 of the release for more details of the different entitlements.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
entitlement_type
Entitlement type
no_restrictions
Percentage of providers with no funding restrictions
provider_type
Provider type
restricted
Percentage of providers that restrict funding in some way
A time series of the proportion of providers that are signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments, broken down by provider type. See Section 8 of the release for more details of Tax-Free Childcare.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Proportion of providers that employ or have access to a SENCO
Filename
sceyp23_providers_with_access_to_senco.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2023
Content
The proportion of providers that employ and / or have access to a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO), broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Percentage of providers
provider_type
Provider type
senco_category
Access to SENCO
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
[u] Statistics based on an "unweighted base" (sample size) of less than 10 are not shown. Statistics based on an "unweighted base" of 10 or greater but less than 30 should be treated with caution and are only indicative.
Figures add up to more than 100 per cent as some providers have both a colleague designated as a SENCO and access to an external SENCO
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 by provider type. Only a very small proportion of children aged under 2 are enrolled at school-based providers so figures for fees for under 2s enrolled at school-based providers are based on small sample sizes.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
A time series of mean and median hourly fees charged by childcare providers to parents for children under 2, broken down by provider type. Only a very small proportion of children aged under 2 are enrolled at school-based providers so figures for fees for under 2s enrolled at school-based providers are based on small sample sizes.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Mean and median parent-paid fees for children aged 2 broken down by local authority. In order to help interpret the mean, the table shows 95% confidence intervals. Based on the responses we received to the survey, we can be 95% confident that the mean for all providers in the local authority lies between the lower and upper values. Figures for some local authorities are based on small sample sizes (less than 30).
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
lower_ci
Lower 95% CI
mean_hourly_fee
Mean hourly fee
median_hourly_fee
Median hourly fee
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
upper_ci
Upper 95% CI
Footnotes
Due to insufficient sample size, data on parent-paid fees charged by childcare providers in Middlesbrough for children aged 2 are unavailable. An estimate has been made of the mean fee charged by providers in Middlesbrough based on average fees data for Middlesbrough in 2022 and the increase in average fees for children aged 3 and 4 in Middlesbrough between 2022 and 2023.
Mean and median parent-paid fees for children aged 3 and 4 broken down by local authority. In order to help interpret the mean, the table shows 95% confidence intervals. Based on the responses we received to the survey, we can be 95% confident that the mean for all providers in the local authority lies between the lower and upper values. Figures for some local authorities are based on small sample sizes (less than 30).
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
lower_ci
Lower 95% CI
mean_hourly_fee
Mean hourly fee
median_hourly_fee
Median hourly fee
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
upper_ci
Upper 95% CI
Footnotes
Due to insufficient sample size, data on parent-paid fees charged by childcare providers in Rutland for children aged 3 and 4 are unavailable. An estimate has been made of the mean fee charged by providers in Rutland based on average fees data for Rutland in 2022 and the increase in average fees for children aged 2 in Rutland between 2022 and 2023.
A time series of the mean and median funding rates paid by the government to childcare providers for children aged 3 and 4, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
A time series of the mean and median funding rates paid by the government to childcare providers for children aged 2, broken down by region and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
A time series of the mean and median funding rates paid by the government to childcare providers for children aged 3 and 4, broken down by region and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
A time series of the difference between mean fees charged by childcare providers to parents and funding rates paid by the government to childcare providers, broken down by region and provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
age_group
Age group
difference
Difference between mean funding rate and mean fee
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Values are less than zero where average funding rates are higher than average fees and greater than zero where average fees are higher than average funding rates.
The proportion of staff paid below the National Living Wage, broken down by provider type.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
percentage
Percentage earning below NLW
provider_type
Provider type
unweighted_base
Unweighted base
Footnotes
Average hourly salaries have been derived differently to previous years. This has reduced the proportion of staff estimated to earn below the National Living Wage. See "further details" for more information.
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.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
2_Fees
Mean hourly parent-paid fee charged by providers for children aged 2
3-4_Fees
Mean hourly parent-paid fee charged by providers for preschool children aged 3 and 4
Total_Providers
Total estimated number of childcare providers in England with at least one child aged 0-4 registered with them
Total_Registered_Places
Total estimated number of registered childcare places in England
Total_Workforce
Total estimated number of paid childcare staff
Under2_Fees
Mean hourly parent-paid fee charged by providers for children aged under 2