Reporting year 2021

Education provision: children under 5 years of age

Data guidance

Published 1 July 2021

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Education Provision: children under 5 years of age in England, January 2021’ National Statistics release’s underlying data files. 

This data is released under the terms of the Open Government Licence and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data. 

The early years census guidance and the school census guidance here should be referenced alongside this data. They provide information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data.

Coverage

This release provides the latest information on provision of education for children under 5 in the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors in England: 

It includes information on: 

• The number of 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds benefiting from some funded early education places by type of provider and local authority; 
• The number of 3- and 4-year-olds benefiting from extended funded early education places by type of provider and local authority; 
• Local authority rates for numbers benefiting as a proportion of the population for 3- and 4- year-olds and as a proportion of the eligible population for 2-year-olds; 
• The proportion of 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds in funded early education by number of funded hours received; 
• The number of 3- and 4-year-olds benefiting from some funded early education by reason for claiming early years pupil premium; 
• The number of 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds benefiting from some funded early education by Ofsted inspection rating; 
• The number and percentage of early years staff at private, voluntary and independent providers, by highest qualification;
• The number and percentage of private, voluntary and independent providers and children benefiting at private, voluntary and independent providers, with staff with graduate status; 

The information is based on pupil level data collected via the early years census, school census and the school level annual school census. 

The underlying data files include national, regional and local authority level information for the position during census week in January for years 2018 to 2021.

File formats and conventions

Files with “National” at the beginning of the section title only cover national level aggregate data. Those without “National” at the beginning of the section title also cover region and local authority level geographic data. 

All files cover 2018-2021 with the exception of National Percentage Take-Up by Age (2011 to 2021) which provides a longer time series.

 

Where is it decided disclosure control is necessary to protect confidentiality, symbols are used in the underlying data files as follows: 

c below 6 

0 the original figure submitted was zero 

. data not applicable 

.. data not available 

- represents less than 0.5%

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.

National Number of Children by Early Years Pupil Premium Funding Basis (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 6a_early_years_provision_children_pupil_premium_basis_national_2018_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The reason for children being in receipt of Early Years Pupil Premium nationally.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
3_4_year_olds_%	Per cent of 3 and 4 year olds in receipt of pupil premium registered
3_year_olds_%	Per cent of 3 year olds in receipt of pupil premium registered
4_year_olds_%	Per cent of 4 year olds in receipt of pupil premium registered
entitlement_type	Funded entitlement
number_3_4_year_olds	Number of 3 and 4 year olds in receipt of pupil premium registered
number_3_year_olds	Number of 3 year olds in receipt of pupil premium registered
number_4_year_olds	Number of 4 year olds in receipt of pupil premium registered
pupil_premium	Type of pupil premium - Select type of premium: for example economic criteria

Footnotes

1. The majority of 4-year-olds are in infant classes in primary schools. These receive the school-age pupil premium rather than the early years pupil premium.
2. "Other" includes children eligible due to being in care or due to leaving care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order.
3. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

National Number of Providers by Provider Type (sub-categories) and Children's Age (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 3a_early-years_provision_provider_type_national_2018_to_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The number of providers of each provider type, presented nationally to allow smaller breakdowns in provider type.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
number_children_2	Number of two year olds registered
number_children_34	Number of three and four year olds registered
number_providers_2	Number of providers delivering education for 2 year olds
number_providers_34	Number of providers delivering education for 3 and 4 year olds
type_of_provider	Type of provider - Select type of provider: for example Childminders

Footnotes

1. Children who split their entitlement across more than one Private, Voluntary or Independent provider are only counted at the provider where they spend the majority of their time.
2. Since 2019, a data cleaning exercise with local authorities has improved data quality. Provider types are now more accurately recorded and caution should be taken when comparing across time.
3. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. Open providers, or providers closed due to government guidance, made census returns relating to registered children's "expected attendance" in census week. Further information is available in the methodology.

National Percentage Take-Up By Age (2011 to 2021)

• Filename: percentage_take_up_national_2011_2021_corrected.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2011 to 2021
• Content:

  National time series of take-up amongst eligible two-year olds from 2015, and amongst three- and four-year-olds of the universal entitlement from 2011.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
%_of_2yo_registered	Percentage of eligible 2-year-olds registered
%_of_3_&_4_yo_registered	Percentage of 3 and 4-year-olds registered
%_of_3yo_registered	Percentage of 3-year-olds registered
%_of_4yo_registered	Percentage of 4-year-olds registered

Footnotes

1. Children who split their entitlement across more than one Private, Voluntary or Independent provider are only counted at the provider where they spend the majority of their time.
2. The estimated number of eligible two-year-olds children is derived from data supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions each November. It represents the best data available on the number of children meeting the benefit and tax credit eligibility criteria. Since 2019 it includes universal credit recipients. Caution should be exercised when comparing across time and/or local authorities.
3. Population estimates of three and four-year-olds are revised annually. Take-up rates may differ from previously published figures.
4. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Number of Children by Early Years Pupil Premium Status (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 6b_early_years_provision_children_pupil_premium_2018_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  Number of children with and without receipt of Early Years Pupil Premium.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entitlement_type	Funded entitlement
number_3_4_year_olds_pp	Number of 3 and 4 year olds in receipt of pupil premium benefiting
number_3_year_olds_pp	Number of 3 year olds in receipt of pupil premium benefiting
number_4_year_olds_pp	Number of 4 year olds in receipt of pupil premium benefiting

Footnotes

1. The majority of 4-year-olds are in infant classes in primary schools. These receive the school-age pupil premium rather than the early years pupil premium.
2. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Number of Children by Ethnicity and Age (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 9_early_years_provision_ethnicity_2018_to_2021_.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  Number of children in receipt of funded early education entitlements of each ethnicity, as reported on their census return.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
characteristic_type	Characteristic type - Select type of characteristic: example white
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
number_2_year_olds	Number of two year olds registered
number_3_4_year_olds	Number of three and four year olds registered

Footnotes

1. "Other" includes Chinese children.
2. Unclassified - child's ethnicity was refused or not obtained. These are included in the 'Total' numbers.
3. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Number of Children by Special Educational Needs (SEN) status and Age (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 5_early_years_provision_sen_2018_to_2021_.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The number of children in receipt of Education Health and Care Plans, and/or in receipt of SEN support.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
2_year_olds_%	Per cent of two year olds registered
3_4_year_olds_%	Per cent of three and four year olds registered
characteristic_type	Characteristic type - Select type of SEN characteristic: example SEN support
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
number_2_year_olds	Number of two year olds registered
number_3_4_year_olds	Number of three and four year olds registered

Footnotes

1. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Number of Children Registered by Age and Provider Type (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 1a_children_registered_by_age_and_provider_type_2018_to_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  Number of children registered to receive funded entitlements by provider type.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
number_of_2_year_olds	Number of two year olds registered
number_of_3_4_year_olds	Number of three and four year olds registered
number_of_3_year_olds	Number of three year olds registered
number_of_4_year_olds	Number of four year olds registered
provider_type	Type of provider - Select type of provider: for example Childminders

Footnotes

1. Children who split their entitlement across more than one Private, Voluntary or Independent provider are only counted at the provider where they spend the majority of their time.
2. “Maintained Nursery and State-funded primary schools" are a combination of the "Infant classes in primary schools", "Nursery classes in primary schools" and "Nursery schools" sub-groups.
3. Infant classes in primary schools include other classes not designated as nursery classes. For four-year-olds, this will mostly be reception classes.
4. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Number of Children Registered by Local Authority District (2020 to 2021)

• Filename: 10_early_years_provision_lad_2020_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; Local authority district; National; Regional
• Time period: 2020 to 2021
• Content:

  The number of children registered to receive funded entitlements by Local Authority District.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
no_3_4_reg_ext_dnm	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive extended funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of did not match
no_3_4_reg_ext_good	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive extended funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of good
no_3_4_reg_ext_inadequate	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive extended funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of inadequate
no_3_4_reg_ext_outstanding	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive extended funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of outstanding
no_3_4_reg_ext_satisfactory	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive extended funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of satisfactory
no_3_4_reg_uni_dnm	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of did not match
no_3_4_reg_uni_good	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of good
no_3_4_reg_uni_inadequate	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of inadequate
no_3_4_reg_uni_outstanding	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of outstanding
no_3_4_reg_uni_satisfactory	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of satisfactory
no2_reg	Number of two year olds registered to receive funded early education
no2_reg_dnm	Number of two year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of did not match
no2_reg_eco	Number of two year olds who met the economic basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education
no2_reg_eco_dnm	Number of two year olds who met the economic basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of did not match
no2_reg_eco_good	Number of two year olds who met the economic basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of good
no2_reg_eco_inadequate	Number of two year olds who met the economic basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of inadequate
no2_reg_eco_outstanding	Number of two year olds who met the economic basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of outstanding
no2_reg_eco_satisfactory	Number of two year olds who met the economic basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of satisfactory
no2_reg_good	Number of two year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of good
no2_reg_hsd	Number of two year olds who met the high-level SEN or disability basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education
no2_reg_hsd_dnm	Number of two year olds who met the high-level SEN or disability basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of did not match
no2_reg_hsd_good	Number of two year olds who met the high-level SEN or disability basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of good
no2_reg_hsd_inadequate	Number of two year olds who met the high-level SEN or disability basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of inadequate
no2_reg_hsd_outstanding	Number of two year olds who met the high-level SEN or disability basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of outstanding
no2_reg_hsd_satisfactory	Number of two year olds who met the high-level SEN or disability basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of satisfactory
no2_reg_inadequate	Number of two year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of inadequate
no2_reg_laa	Number of two year olds who met the looked after or adopted from care basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education
no2_reg_laa_dnm	Number of two year olds who met the looked after or adopted from care basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of did not match
no2_reg_laa_good	Number of two year olds who met the looked after or adopted from care basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of good
no2_reg_laa_inadequate	Number of two year olds who met the looked after or adopted from care basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of inadequate
no2_reg_laa_outstanding	Number of two year olds who met the looked after or adopted from care basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of outstanding
no2_reg_laa_satisfactory	Number of two year olds who met the looked after or adopted from care basis for funding criteria registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of satisfactory
no2_reg_outstanding	Number of two year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of outstanding
no2_reg_satisfactory	Number of two year olds registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted inspection rating of satisfactory
no3_4_reg_ext	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive extended funded early education
no3_4_reg_uni	Number of three and four year olds registered to receive funded early education
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) registered to receive funded early education
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_both	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) for both reasons registered to receive funded early education
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_dnm	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted rating of did not match
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_eco	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) for economic reasons registered to receive funded early education
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_good	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted rating of good
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_inadequate	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted rating of inadequate
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_oth	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) due to being in care or due to leaving care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order registered to receive funded early education
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_outstanding	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted rating of outstanding
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_satisfactory	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) registered to receive funded early education at a provider with an Ofsted rating of satisfactory
no3_4_reg_uni_eypp_unk	Number of three and four year olds in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) for unknown reasons registered to receive funded early education

Footnotes

1. A 2-year-old can be counted under more than one basis for funding if more than one applies.
2. Statutory guidance advises local authorities not to fund 'Requires Improvement' or 'Inadequate' provision for eligible two-year-olds unless sufficient, accessible ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ provision is not available.
3. "No Match" includes registered independent schools who are not required to register with Ofsted and academy converters who have not yet been inspected under their new status. These are included as a proportion of the "Total" numbers, based on the total number of children receiving funding.
4. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. Open providers, or providers closed due to government guidance, made census returns relating to registered children's "expected attendance" in census week. Further information is available in the methodology.
5. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Number of Providers by Provider Type and Children's Age (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 3_early_years_provision_provider_type_2018_to_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  Number of providers of funded entitlements by provider type (e.g., childminders).

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
number_providers_2	Number of providers delivering education for 2 year olds
number_providers_34	Number of providers delivering education for 3 and 4 year olds
provider_type	Type of provider - Select type of provider: for example Childminders

Footnotes

1. “Maintained Nursery and State-funded primary schools" are a combination of the "Primary schools with nursery classes", "Primary schools without nursery classes", "Nursery and infant classes in primary schools" and "Maintained Nursery schools" sub-groups.
2. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. Open providers, or providers closed due to government guidance, made census returns relating to registered children's "expected attendance" in census week. Further information is available in the methodology.

Number of Two-Year-Olds by Basis for Funding (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 8_early_years_provision_basis_for_funding_2018_to_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The basis on which a 2- year-old has been funded for an early education place

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
basis_for_funding	Basis for funding - Select basis for funding: for example Economic criteria
entitlement_type	Funded entitement
number_2_year_olds	Number of two year olds registered

Footnotes

1. A 2-year-old can be counted under more than one basis for funding if more than one applies.
2. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Percentage and Number of Children By Hours Per Week (Banded) (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 2_early_years_provision_banded_hours_2018_to_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The proportion of children in funded early education by number of funded hours received.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
funded_hours	Funded hours band - Select funded hours band: for example 10.01 to 12.50 hours
percent_hours_2_yearolds	Per cent of two year olds benefiting
percent_hours_3_yearolds	Per cent of three year olds benefiting
percent_hours_4_yearolds	Per cent of four year olds benefiting
provider_type	Type of provider - Select type of provider: for example Childminders

Footnotes

1. The percentages across all banded hours sum to 100%, although this may not be exact due to rounding.
2. Where a child takes their annual extended entitlement flexibly over more than the standard 38 weeks of term-time, the extended hours recorded in census week may overestimate the actual hours taken in a term-time week e.g. a child recorded as 15 hours during census week may in fact be using their full entitlement stretched at 12 weekly hours over more than 38 weeks.
3. Any child attending more than one provider may have been counted twice.
4. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.
5. Where a child takes their annual funded entitlement flexibly over more than the standard 38 weeks of term-time, the funded hours recorded in census week may underestimate the actual proportion of the entitlement taken annually e.g. a child funded for 12 hours during census week may in fact be taking up the fully funded place over more than 38 weeks.

Percentage and Number of Providers and Children by Ofsted Rating (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 4_early_years_provision_ofsted_ratings_2018_to_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The number of children benefiting from some funded early education by Ofsted inspection rating.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
2_year_olds_%	Percent of two year olds registered
3_4_year_olds_%	Per cent of three and four year olds registered
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
number_2_year_olds	Number of two year olds registered
number_3_4_year_olds	Number of three and four year olds registered
ofsted_inspection	Ofsted inspection rating - Select Ofsted inspection rating: for example Ofsted inspection rating - Good

Footnotes

1. Statutory guidance advises local authorities not to fund 'Requires Improvement' or 'Inadequate' provision for eligible two-year-olds unless sufficient, accessible ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ provision is not available.
2. "No Match" includes registered independent schools who are not required to register with Ofsted and academy converters who have not yet been inspected under their new status. These are included as a proportion of the "Total" numbers, based on the total number of children receiving funding.
3. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. Open providers, or providers closed due to government guidance, made census returns relating to registered children's "expected attendance" in census week. Further information is available in the methodology.
4. Percentages are based upon those where the provider has a matched and identified Ofsted rating (i.e., excludes "No Match"). The four available ratings sum to 100% (may not be exact due to rounding).

Percentage and Number of Providers and Children Registered with Graduate-Level Staff (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 7b_early_years_provision_staff_2018_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  Number and percentage of private, voluntary and independent providers and the number of children benefiting from funded early education at private, voluntary and independent providers with staff with graduate status by category of provider.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: funded or extended - Select type of entitlement: funded or extended
number_providers	Number of providers
number_providers_with_graduate	Number of providers having staff with a graduate status
number_registered	Number of children registered
number_registered_at_provider_with_graduate	Number of children registered at providers having staff with a graduate status
percent_providers_with_graduate	Per cent of providers having staff with a graduate status
percent_registered_at_provider_with_graduate	Per cent of children registered at providers having staff with a graduate status
type_of_provider	Type of provider - Select type of provider: example childminder

Footnotes

1. Children who split their entitlement across more than one Private, Voluntary or Independent provider are only counted at the provider where they spend the majority of their time.
2. Since 2019, a data cleaning exercise with local authorities has improved data quality. Provider types are now more accurately recorded and caution should be taken when comparing across time.
3. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. Open providers, or providers closed due to government guidance, made census returns relating to registered children's "expected attendance" in census week. Further information is available in the methodology.

Percentage Take-Up and Number of Children Registered by Age and Provider Type

• Filename: 1b_early_years_provision_percentage_registered_2018_2021_corrected.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The percentage of children benefiting from funded early education places. The numerator is the number of children, the denominator is the DWP estimate of eligible two-year-olds or the ONS estimate of the population of three-year-olds and four-year-olds.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
2_year_old_population	DWP population estimate for two-year-olds.
3_4_year_old_population	ONS population estimate for three and four-year-olds.
3_year_old_population	ONS population estimate for three-year-olds.
4_year_old_population	ONS population estimate for four-year-olds.
entitlement_type	Type of entitlement: Funded entitlement
number_2_yearolds	Number of two-year-olds
number_3_4_yearolds	Number of three and four-year-olds
number_3_yearolds	Number of three-year-olds
number_4_yearolds	Number of four-year-olds
percent_2_yearolds	Per cent of two-year-old children registered
percent_3_4_yearolds	Per cent of three and four-year-old children registered
percent_3_yearolds	Per cent of three-year-old children registered
percent_4_yearolds	Per cent of four-year-old children registered
provider_type	Type of provider - Select type of entitlement: example childminder

Footnotes

1. Children who split their entitlement across more than one Private, Voluntary or Independent provider are only counted at the provider where they spend the majority of their time.
2. The estimated number of eligible two-year-olds children is derived from data supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions each November. It represents the best data available on the number of children meeting the benefit and tax credit eligibility criteria. Since 2019 it includes universal credit recipients. Caution should be exercised when comparing across time and/or local authorities.
3. “Maintained Nursery and State-funded primary schools" are a combination of the "Infant classes in primary schools", "Nursery classes in primary schools" and "Nursery schools" sub-groups.
4. Population estimates of three and four-year-olds are revised annually. Take-up rates may differ from previously published figures.
5. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. A higher proportion of children recorded as registered to receive early education entitlements will have been temporarily absent during census week itself than previous years.

Provider's Highest Staff Qualification (2018 to 2021)

• Filename: 7a_early_years_provision_staff_highest_qualification_2018_2021.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2018 to 2021
• Content:

  The number and percentage of early years staff at private, voluntary and independent providers, by highest qualification and category of provider.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
highest_qualification	Highest level of qualification - Select highest level of qualification: for example Relevant EY level 2
number_of_staff	Number of staff
percentage_of_staff	Per cent of staff
type_of_provider	Type of provider - Select type of provider: for example Childminders

Footnotes

1. Since 2019, a data cleaning exercise with local authorities has improved data quality. Provider types are now more accurately recorded and caution should be taken when comparing across time.
2. Total EY staff includes both qualified and unqualified staff. Therefore percentages do not sum to 100% across available qualification levels.
3. Percentages are as a proportion of all staff at that provider type, not a proportion of staff with a specific qualification. Therefore, all provider types will not sum to 100%.
4. 2021 is the first year of data covering COVID-19, collected during January's national lockdown. Open providers, or providers closed due to government guidance, made census returns relating to registered children's "expected attendance" in census week. Further information is available in the methodology.