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Reporting year 2024
Childcare and early years survey of parents
Data guidance
Published
Description
The publication methodology, available on the publication report, should be referenced alongside this data. It provides methodological information on the survey design, sample, fieldwork, data analysis, interpretation, weighting and definitions used.
Coverage
This publication provides information on a survey of parents with children aged 0 to 14 in England. It covers parents’ use of childcare and early years provision, and their views and experiences, including:
what childcare is used by different types of families
what childcare is used by different types of families and children
changes in take-up of childcare over the years
parents’ reasons for using or not using childcare and for choosing particular providers
parents’ views on the providers they used and on childcare provision in their local area in general
the perceived impacts of the 15 and 30 hours of childcare policy on families and children
the influence of childcare arrangements on mothers’ decisions about whether to go out to work and working patterns
the home learning environment
File formats and conventions
z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
* means the figure rounds to 0, but is not 0.
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.
1. Changes to provision
Filename
ceysp24_changes_to_provision.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2023 to 2024
Content
The proportion of families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 saying that various changes to childcare arrangements would make it better suited to their needs.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
change
Changes to childcare provision that would make it better suited to parents’ needs
Proportion of families using childcare during the school holidays.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
proportion
Proportion
type_of_childcare
Childcare type
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.
The proportion of families with children aged 0-14 (split by age bands) using childcare in the most recent term-time week by year.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
child(ren)_age
Child(ren) age
childcare_type
Childcare type
proportion
Percentage of families using childcare providers
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.
The proportion of children aged 0-14 (split by age groups) using childcare in the most recent term time week by year.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
childcare_type
Childcare type
children_aged
Children aged
proportion
Percentage of children using childcare providers in the most recent term time week
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
Estimates for the use of ‘any childcare’ and ‘informal childcare’ prior to the 2019 wave include ex-husbands/wives/partners as a form of childcare, and this should be borne in mind when making comparisons across survey years.
The proportion of mothers reporting that they were working.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
Mothers_working_pattern
Mothers working pattern
Proportion
Percentage of mothers working FT and PT
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
Proportion of parents over time (by child age) judging the affordability of childcare as good.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
Age_of_children
Age of children in family
Proportion
Percentage of parents rating the affordability of local childcare as very or fairly good
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.
Proportion of parents overtime finding it difficult to meet their childcare costs.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
Age_of_children
Age of children in family
Proportion
Proportion of parents finding it difficult or very difficult to meet their childcare costs
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.
Families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 perceive the availability of local childcare overtime as about right.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
Age_of_children
Age of children in family
Proportion
Percentage of parents saying the availability of local childcare places is ‘about right’
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.
Families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 perceive the availability of local childcare overtime as not enough.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
Age_of_children
Age of children in family
Proportion
Percentage of parents saying the availability of local childcare places is ‘not enough’
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.
Families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 perceive the quality of local childcare as good overtime.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
Age_of_children
Age of children in family
Proportion
Percentage of parents rating the quality of local childcare as very or fairly good
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
z refers to an observation that is not applicable. This is used for 2019 data as this was completed by parents of 0-4s only.
Parental perceptions on local childcare for 0-4 year olds.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
Proportion
Proportion
Response_breakdown
Response selected
Type_of_perception
Type of perception
Footnotes
x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
2010 data corresponds to 2010-11, 2011 data corresponds to 2011-12, 2012 data corresponds to 2012-13, 2014 data corresponds to 2014-15. There was no survey in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 2019 survey was with families with children aged 0-4 and so the data are not directly comparable. 2020 data is presented separately in the supporting files due to a limited sample caused by COVID-19 disruption, limiting comparisons.
Perceived impact on work hours for the new 15 hour childcare entitlement for 2 year olds.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
change_in_hours
Were the 15 hours offer not available…
family_characteristic
Family characteristic
proportion
Proportion
Footnotes
Answers from lone parents and those with an annual family income under £30,000 are both based on fewer than 50 respondents. These results should therefore be interpreted with caution.
Perceived impact on employment choices of the new 15 hour childcare entitlement for 2 year olds.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
family_characteristic
Family characteristic
proportion
Proportion
work_choice
Impact on employment choices
Footnotes
Answers from lone parents and those with an annual family income under £30,000 are both based on fewer than 50 respondents. These results should therefore be interpreted with caution.