Reporting year 2023

Childcare and early years survey of parents

Data guidance

Published 25 July 2024

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 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
• children’s use of digital technology in 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.

Headline stats v2

• Filename: ceysp23_headline_stats_v3.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  headlines stat 3

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Any_0-4_2023	Proportion of children aged 0-4 using any childcare in 2023
Availability_0-4_2023	Proportion of families with children aged 0-4 who said that the availability of local childcare is ‘about right’
Factors_work_0-4	Proportion of working mothers of 0-4-year-olds who said that having reliable childcare helped them go to work
Formal_0-4_2023	Proportion of children aged 0-4 using formal childcare in 2023
Formal_5-14_2023	Proportion of children aged 5-14 using formal childcare in 2023
Quality_0-4_2023	Proportion of families with children aged 0-4 who said that the quality of local childcare is ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ good:

Headline stats

• Filename: ceysp23_headline_stats.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  headline stat 1

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Any_0-14_2022	Proportion of children aged 0-14 using any childcare in 2022
Any_0-4_2022	Proportion of children aged 0-4 using any childcare in 2022
Factors_work_0-14	Proportion of working mothers of 0-14-year-olds who said that having reliable childcare helping them go to work
Factors_work_0-4	Proportion of working mothers of 0-4-year-olds who said that having reliable childcare helping them go to work

1. Childcare use by children (aged 0 to 4)

• Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_0_4_ts.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of children aged 0-4 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
Proportion	Percentage of children aged 0-4 using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 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.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. 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.

1. Childcare use by children (aged 5 to 11)

• Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_5_11_ts.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of children aged 5-11 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
Proportion	Percentage of children aged 5-11 using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 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.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. 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.

1. Childcare use by children (aged 12 to 14)

• Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_12_14_ts.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of children aged 12-14 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
Proportion	Percentage of children aged 12-14 using childcare providers in the most recent term time week

Footnotes

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 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.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. 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.

1. Childcare use by families (with children aged 0 to 4)

• Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_0_4_ts_families.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families with children aged 0-4 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
Proportion	Percentage of families using childcare providers among families with children aged 0 to 4 years

Footnotes

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 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.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. 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.

1. Childcare use by families (with children aged 5 to 14)

• Filename: ceysp23_childcare_use_5_14_ts_families.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families with children aged 5-14 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
Proportion	Percentage of families using childcare providers among families with just children aged 5 to 14 years

Footnotes

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 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.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. 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.

1. Childcare use during school holidays by families

• Filename: ceysp23_childcare_school_holidays_ts_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2008 to 2023
• Content:
  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

1. Caution should be taken when comparing 2021 figures with other years due to the potential impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the 2021 data.
2. 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.
3. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
4. 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.
5. 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.

1. Reasons for not using childcare

• Filename: ceysp23_reasons_not_using_families_0-4_5-14_all.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families who had not used any childcare in the last year selecting various reasons for not doing so

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Age_of_children_in_family	Age of children in family
Proportion	Proportion selecting each response
Reason	Reason selected
Type_of_reason	Type of reason: choice or constraint

Footnotes

1. * denotes a percentage value of less than 0.5% but greater than 0%.

1. Changes to childcare provision by age of child

• Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision_0-4_5-14_all_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• 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
Family_characteristic	Family and area characteristics
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

2. Impact of the 30 hours offer on work

• Filename: ceysp23_30hours_work_impact.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  Impact of the 30 hours childcare offer on work

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Proportion	Perceived impact of the 30 hours offer on work
Response_breakdown	Response options

2. Awareness of 15 hours entitlement

• Filename: ceysp23_awareness_15_hours.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  Awareness of the 15 hours childcare entitlement

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Awareness	Awareness of the 15 hours offer
Family_characteristic	Family and area characteristics
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

2. Awareness of 15 hours entitlement for 2YO

• Filename: ceysp23_awareness_15_hours_2yo_v4.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families with with a two-year old child who are aware of the 15 hours offer for 2 year olds.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Awareness	Awareness of the entitlement to government funded early education for 2-year-olds
Child_Age	Age of children in family
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

2. Awareness of 30 hours entitlement

• Filename: ceysp23_awareness_30_hours.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 who are aware of the 30 hours offer for 3 to 4 year olds.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Awareness	Awareness of the 30 hours offer
Family_characteristic	Family and area characteristics
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

2. Awareness of new entitlements

• Filename: ceysp23_awareness_30_hours_new.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families with child(ren) aged 0 to 2 who are aware of the new 30 hours offer for 9 month to 2 year olds.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Awareness	Awareness of the new 30 hours offer
Family_characteristic	Family and area characteristics
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

3. Perceptions of affordability by age of child

• Filename: ceysp23_affordability_age_ts_v3.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  How families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 rate the affordability of local childcare.

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

1. 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.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. 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.

3. Difficulty paying for childcare

• Filename: ceysp23_difficulty_paying_ts_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2008 to 2023
• Content:
  How families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 rate the difficulty of paying for local childcare.

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

1. 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.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. 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.

4. Perceptions of availability by age of child

• Filename: ceysp23_availability_age_ts_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2008 to 2023
• Content:
  How families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 perceive the availability of local childcare.

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

1. 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.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. 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.

4. Perceptions of availability by age of child (not enough local places)

• Filename: ceysp23_availability_age_ts_notenough_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  How many families with child(ren) aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 perceive there to not be enough local childcare places.

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

1. 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.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. 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.

4. Changes to provision

• Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families saying that various changes to childcare provision would make it better

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
Family_characteristic	Family and area characteristics
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

4. Changes to provision (ages 0 to 4)

• Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision_0-4.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families with children aged 0 to 4 only saying that various changes to childcare provision would make it better

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
Family_characteristic	Family and area characteristics
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

4. Changes to provision (ages 0 to 4, 5 to 14, All)

• Filename: ceysp23_changes_to_provision_0-4_5-14_all.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families with children aged 0 to 4 only, both 0 to 4 and 5 to 14, and 5 to 14, saying that various changes to childcare provision would make it better

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
Family_characteristic	Family and area characteristics
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason

4. Parent perceptions

• Filename: ceysp23_parent_perceptions_ts_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2004 to 2023
• Content:
  Parental perceptions on local childcare

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

1. 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.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. 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.

4.Perceptions of quality by age of child

• Filename: ceysp23_quality_age_ts_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2008 to 2023
• Content:
  Parental perceptions on the quality of local childcare by child age

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

1. 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.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.
3. 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.

5. Home Learning Environment

• Filename: ceysp23_hle_v2.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2017 to 2023
• Content:
  The proportion of families saying that they engage in various home learning activities at least once a day, by year

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Activity	Home learning activities
Proportion	Proportion of families engaging in home learning activities at least once a day, among children aged 0-4

Footnotes

1. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.

5. Home Learning Environment Activities

• Filename: ceysp23_hle_activities.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  The frequency with which parents engage in various home-learning activities with their children

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Activity	Home learning activities
Frequency	Frequency
Proportion	Proportion of families engaging in home learning activities at least once a day, among children aged 0-4

6. Maternal work

• Filename: ceysp23_maternal_work_ts.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2010 to 2023
• Content:
  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

1. 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.
2. x is used when the data is unavailable. This is used when the data was not collected in that year.

6. Work factors

• Filename: ceysp23_work_factors.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  Factors that influence the decision to work

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason
Reason	Childcare arrangements that helped mothers to go out to work

6. Work factors by age of child

• Filename: ceysp23_work_factors_0-4_5-14_all.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2023
• Content:
  Factors that influence the decision to work by child age

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
Age_of_children_in_family	Age of children in family
Proportion	Proportion selecting reason
Reason	Reason selected

Footnotes

1. * denotes a percentage value of less than 0.5% but greater than 0%.