Spring term 2025/26 Second Wave

Expansion to early childcare entitlements: Childcare Experiences Survey

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Introduction

This publication provides information from the Department for Education’s Childcare Experiences Survey. The Childcare Experiences Survey will be 6 waves of data collection from parents using the expanded entitlement to government funded childcare, introduced from April 2024.

This publication contains detail from the second wave of the Childcare Experience Survey, which took place between March and April 2025. 

The summary results provided here detail the experiences of 6,112 parents who had recently applied for the Government’s expanded entitlement to funded childcare for working parents through the Childcare Choices website (opens in a new tab) (opens in new tab). Data comes from parents who had applied for a new eligibility code for the expanded entitlement between  1st September to 31st December 2024, for their child to start funded childcare from January 2025. The survey asks about 15 hours of funded childcare per week for eligible parents.

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Section 1: Background and household characteristics

Background  

The amount of financial support available to parents, in the form of government-funded childcare, has been extended. The new measures will expand the existing system by offering up to 30 funded hours of childcare per week over 38 weeks of the year to children aged 9 months up to 2 years whose parents meet the same income eligibility criteria as applied to the existing 30 hours entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds.  

At the time of the survey (March to April 2025) only the first phases of this expansion - 15 hours of funded childcare per week for eligible parents of 9 month to 2-year-old children - had been rolled out.  The new entitlements will be offered in full as of September 2025. 

This survey asked about: 

  • parents' experiences with applying to access the 15 hours funded childcare hours entitlement for working families,  
  • using childcare providers in their area for their child who is receiving funded childcare,   
  • and how parents' childcare and employment arrangements work for them and their family.  

Introduction 

This section provides an overview of the current sample characteristics. 

Issued sample 

The current cohort consists of a stratified random sample of 40,000 parents who were selected from a base population of 360,000 of customers who: 

  • had a live Child Benefit claim (ChB); 
  • had applied for a new eligibility code for the expanded childcare entitlements between 1st September-31st December 2024 (for their child to start childcare from January 2025). 
  • had a child claimed for born between (and including) 31st December 2021 and 31st March 2024 (i.e. aged 9 months to 2 years at the time of sampling). 

The sample were stratified proportionally by regions in England  to capture geographical representativeness while ensuring where any labour market effects in the regions most affected by unemployment were identified. To be designed with a higher representation of parents in lower-income areas in mind, a sample boost was applied in regions with high economic inactivity (opens in new tab), particularly in the northern regions which may be experiencing a shortage of childcare. 

Achieved sample 

A total of 6,112 respondents (91% female, 9% male) in England completed the survey between 1st March and 11th April 2025 – a response rate of 15%. 

Eligibility 

The working families' entitlement offer is 15 hours funded childcare for eligible working families from September 2024. This offer is available for children from the term after they turn 9 months old until the term that they turn 3 years old. 6,302 respondents began the survey. 6,259 respondents had received a childcare code for at least one of their children aged 9 months to 2 years to receive 15 hours funded childcare hours under the working families' entitlement. 19 respondents who did not fit these criteria were screened out of the survey or exited the survey before completing the first question. Respondents who provided invalid postcode data were excluded from analysis.  

Household Characteristics   

Respondents were asked questions about themselves and their household – including basic information about themselves and those they live with, including children. Results may not equal 100 percent due to rounding.  All figures given are weighted proportions, except for the most common ages of children in households.

  • 87% of respondents reported that there are 2 people over the age of 18 living at their current address.  
  • 98% were living with a partner. 
  • Families had between 1-9 children (aged 17 years and under) living in their household. 45% reported having 2 children (standard deviation = 0.78) at their current address. 
  • Most of the children in the surveyed sample of households were aged 1 year (26%) and 2 years (29%). 

Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) 

  • When asked to what extent caring for a child with SEND impacts their ability to work, 35% responded “a little”, 24% “a moderate amount”, and 15%“a great deal”.

Parents with a disability 

  • There was a small proportion of respondents with a disability amongst surveyed households (3%). 
  • The majority of these respondents said their disability does not impact their ability to work (62%) compared to those reporting it does (27%). 

Parents with caring responsibilities for other people in their household over the age of 18 

  • There was a small proportion of respondents with caring responsibilities amongst surveyed households (2%). 
  • The majority of these respondents said their caring responsibilities does not impact their ability to work (52%), compared to those reporting it does (40%).

Employment status 

  • At the time of the survey, 41% of respondents were working full-time as an employee, 47% part-time as an employee, and 7% were self-employed or freelance. 
  • At the time of the survey, 77% of respondents' partners were working full-time as an employee, 8% part-time as an employee, and 14% were self-employed or freelance. 

Parents' household annual income (before tax) 

  • Lowest household income: 4% of parents had a household income of less than £20,000.  
  • Lower household income:  12% of parents had a household income between £20,000-£39,999.  
  • Middle household income:  23% of parents had a household income between £40,000-£59,999. 
  • Middle household income: 27% of parents had a household income between £60,000-£79,999. 
  • Higher household income: 22% of parents had a household income between £80,000-£99,999. 
  • Highest household income: 12% of parents had a household income of more than £100,000. 

Further information 

More detailed information, including sample sizes, can be found in additional tables available in the “supporting files” section and the Methodology section of this release. 

Find out more: information on eligibility criteria (opens in new tab).

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Section 2: Experiences of applying for the working parents entitlement via Childcare Choices

Introduction 

This section reports respondents' perceptions of the ease of the working families childcare entitlement application process; the proportion of respondents who received a childcare eligibility code and went on to claim the childcare offer; and the main reasons for not claiming the childcare offered. 

Findings 

Ease of the working families childcare entitlement application process

The majority of respondents (78%) strongly agree/agree with the following statement: “The application process for the working families childcare entitlement was easy to follow”.

Disability status:  23% of respondents with a disability disagreed or strongly disagreed that the process was easy compared to 12% of respondents with no disabilities.

SEND: Respondents who have a child with SEND in their household report similar levels of agreement with the statement that the entitlement application process was easy to follow, compared to those without a child with SEND. 

Age of child claimed for: Across all age groups, the majority of respondents either agree or strongly agree that the application process was easy to follow. The proportion of respondents who disagree or strongly disagree is slightly lower for 2 and 3 year olds (11-13%), compared to 9-11 months (14%)

Accessing the 15 hours working families entitlements

In general, a majority of respondents (96%) who received a childcare eligibility code went on to claim their 15 hours funded childcare offered.

Household income: A higher proportion of respondents with higher household incomes annually (between £40,000 - £100,000 or more) report accessing the 15 hours funded working families childcare entitlement (97%), compared with respondents earning a household income less than £20,000 (93- 94%).

SEND: Across both SEND groups, the majority of respondents were accessing the 15 hours funded working families childcare entitlements.

By region: Across all regions,  there was high uptake of the  15 hours funded working families childcare entitlements. Respondents in the East Midlands (98%) and West Midlands (98%) report the highest uptake compared to respondents in the South East (94%). 

Reasons for not using the working families childcare entitlement 

At the time of the survey, 4% were not accessing the 15 hours funded working families childcare entitlement; of whom 21% were waiting for a place for their child to become available, 21% had a child to starting next term, 11 % were not able to afford additional costs, and 11% chose alternative provision not eligible for the funded hours. 

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Section 3: Barriers to finding and using early years provision

Introduction 

This section reports proportions of respondents who were on a waiting list before accessing the entitlement or were not on a waiting list at the time of the survey; the different challenges experienced by respondents when finding a childcare place; and, the number of respondents facing restrictions from their childcare provider about when they can use their funded childcare hours. 

Findings 

Accessing formal (paid for) early years provision

91% who report using formal childcare arrangements (e.g., nursery/pre-school, nursery class attached to primary school and or a childminder) were able to get a childcare place at their first choice of provider. 

Whether accessing entitlements: For respondents who had gone on to claim their 15 hours childcare entitlement, 26% reported being placed on a waiting list by their childcare provider before they could access their working families childcare entitlement. Meanwhile, of respondents who were not claiming their 15 hours funded childcare at the time of the survey, 46% said their child was currently on a waiting list from their provider.

Challenges experienced when finding suitable childcare

35% of all respondents encountered no challenges when finding a childcare place.  Whereas, 35% experienced challenges finding childcare affordable to them, 25% found it challenging to find suitable childcare for their preferences, and 23% had difficulties securing a place at their preferred provider.

SEND: Respondents with and without a child with SEND in their household report similar overall experiences finding a childcare place. However, a higher proportion of respondents who had a child with SEND in their household, compared to those without, reported challenges finding childcare this affordable for them (38% vs 35%).

Provider restrictions 

A majority of respondents report not facing any restrictions from their main childcare provider about when they can use their funded childcare hours (71%).

When respondents could use their funded childcare hours: 17% of respondents report facing restrictions from their main childcare provider about when they can use their funded childcare hours. Of these, 34% can only use a certain number of hours per day. 

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Section 4: Using childcare

Introduction

This section reports the proportions of respondents using formal (paid for) and informal (unpaid) types of early years provision for the child receiving entitlement funded childcare; factors influencing parents' decision to use formal childcare; and the average number of hours children receiving the funded entitlement spend in childcare per week.

Findings

Types of childcare arrangements respondents are using 

Respondents were asked to select all the childcare arrangements they typically use for their child receiving the funded childcare entitlement. Nursery or pre-schools were the most common type of childcare reported (84%), followed by the child's grandparents (29%) and a childminder (14%). 

Factors influencing parent’s decision to use formal childcare 

Among respondents who reported using at least one type of paid for childcare arrangement (formal type, e.g. nurseries, pre-school, childminders, nanny or au pair ), 92% indicated that "it enables me to work" was a factor influencing their decision to use formal childcare. Other common reasons included formal childcare being important for their child's social development (83%), emotional development (70%), and physical development (62%).

Hours spent in formal (paid for) early years provision

Respondents who selected either nursery or pre-school, nursery class attached to primary or infants' school, childminder and or a nanny or au pair, were asked to report the number of hours in total per week their child receiving funded childcare entitlement spends in formal childcare (including both government funded and hours parents may pay for). 

The median number of hours all respondents report their child spending in formal childcare per week was 23 hours (standard deviation = 10.5). The high standard deviation indicates substantial variability in the number of hours used.

Household income: Higher-income households reported the greatest number of formal childcare hours used per week. Specifically, for respondents with a household income of £100,000 or more, the median number of hours children spend per week in formal childcare was 30 hours, compared to 18 hours per week for respondents earning an income of less than £20,000.

By region: Households in London report the greatest number of formal childcare hours used per week (median = 30 hours), compared with households in the North East (median = 18 hours).

Type of childcare parents are claiming majority of their entitlement hours in

A higher proportion of respondents who had gone onto claim their 15 hours funded childcare at the time of the survey, were claiming the majority of their entitlement hours in a nursery or pre-school (85%), compared to a childminder (12%), and nursery class attached to primary or infants' school  (3%).

Respondents who claimed the majority of their entitlement on childminders and a nursery or pre-school, reported their child spending more hours per week (median = 24 hours) in paid for early years provision, compared with a nursery class attached to primary or infants' school (median = 15 hours).

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Section 5: Provider fees and charges

Introduction 

This section focuses on respondents experiences of paying for childcare, specifically for their child who is receiving the funded childcare entitlement. Including the proportions of respondents who's childcare costs have changed since the introduction of the working families childcare entitlements from April 2024.

Findings

Change in childcare costs

Respondents were asked if their child who was receiving entitlement funded childcare started in formal (paid for) childcare before 1st April 2024. For those who said 'Yes', the majority reported their childcare costs had decreased (64%), whilst 22% reported an increase in their childcare costs, and 14% had stayed the same, since the introduction of the working families childcare entitlements from April  2024.

Note that respondents may have changed the amount of childcare they use over this period, which would be reflected in their costs.

Entitlement funded providers: Across the three types of paid early years provision where parents can claim their entitlement hours, a higher proportion of respondents reported a reduction in childcare costs since April 2024 for childminders (73%), compared with a nursery classes attached to primary or infants' school (64%), and a nurseries or pre-school (62%). 

Change in childcare costs since April 2024 by household income 

Reduction in childcare costs: A higher proportion of higher-income households reported a reduction in childcare costs since the introduction of the entitlement expansion. Specifically, 67% of respondents earning between £80,000-£99,999  reported a reduction. In contrast, only 58% of the lower income households (£20,000-£39,999) reported a reduction.

My childcare costs have stayed the same: A higher proportion of lower income households (earning less than £40,000) reported their childcare costs have stayed the same (17-18%), compared to lower percentages in higher-income brackets (12-15% of households earning £80,000 or more).

Note that respondents may have changed the amount of childcare they use over this period, which would be reflected in their costs changing.

By region: Households in London (28%) and the North West (25%) repot the highest increase in childcare costs since expansion to early years childcare entitlements. Compared to households in the South West, with 71% reporting reduced childcare costs and 17% reporting increases. 

Additional hours and charges

Data on the types of additional charges parents pay is available in the View or create your own tables tool.

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Section 6: Changes in respondents' employment patterns and childcare usage following the entitlements expansion

Introduction 

This section reports how respondents' working hours have changed since they started claiming the working families childcare entitlements; the extent to which respondents view the new entitlement offer as influential in their change in working hours; and, the number of respondents who intend to change their number of childcare hours from September 2025. 

Findings

Changes in working hours since parents started claiming entitlements

65% of parents who were working full-time, part-time or self-employed at the time of the survey, reported no change in their working hours since they started claiming working families' childcare entitlements. In contrast, 13% saw an increase and 21% saw a decrease in their working hours.  

By household income

No change: A higher proportion of households earning £100,000 or more said their working hours stayed the same compared with those earning less than £20,000 (78% vs 52%)

Working hours have decreased: 30% of respondents with household incomes under £20,000 reported a decrease in working hours - the highest of any income group. 

Working hours have increased: 19% of respondents with household incomes between £20,000-39,999 reported an increase in working hours - the highest of any income group. 

By region: The North East had the highest proportion of respondents whose hours had decreased (28%), Whereas the East of England and South West report the highest increase in working hours (16% each). Both London (67%) and the South East (68%) report higher proportions of respondents saying their hours had stayed the same since they started claiming the working families' childcare entitlements. 

Influence of childcare entitlement on change in working hours

Out of the 34% who had changed their working hours since they started claiming childcare entitlements, 73% of these respondents viewed the introduction of the working families childcare entitlements as somewhat/very influential in changing their working hours. 

Increase in working hours: Among respondents reporting an increase in their working hours since they started claiming childcare entitlements (13%), 86% of these respondents viewed the introduction of the working families childcare entitlements as somewhat/very influential in changing their working hours. 

Decrease in working hours: Among respondents reporting a decrease in their working hours since they started claiming childcare entitlements (21%), 67% of these respondents viewed the introduction of the working families childcare entitlements as somewhat/very influential in changing their working hours. 

Household income: Among the 34% who had changed their working hours since they started claiming childcare entitlements, a higher proportion of respondents in the lower income households, particularly households earning less than £20,000 (85%), viewed the introduction of the working families childcare entitlements as somewhat/very influential in changing their working hours. 

Meanwhile, a higher proportion (44%) of respondents earning more than £100,000 reported the working families childcare entitlements was not very/not at all influential in changing their working hours.

Future childcare plans from September 2025

The Government will be extending the working families entitlement offer to 30 hours funded childcare per week from September 2025 for children aged from 9 months. 

A slightly higher proportion of respondents intend to increase (44%) the number of hours their child receiving funded childcare spends in childcare from September 2025 than respondents who do not plan to change their childcare hours (42%). Very few reported intentions to decrease their childcare hours (1%). 

Reasons for changing childcare hours from September 2025

The most frequently cited reasons amongst respondents reporting an intention to change the number of hours their child receiving entitlement funded childcare spends in childcare from September 2025, were to increase their working hours (63%) and to support their child's development (49%). 

Household income: The lowest income households, particularly respondents earning less than £20,000, reported the highest proportion of intentions to increase their working hours (68%) following the entitlement expansion from September 2025.

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