Spring term 2025/26 Second Wave

Expansion to early childcare entitlements: Childcare Experiences Survey

Initial outputs from DfE's Childcare Experiences Survey (aka “Your Childcare”), understanding working parents' experiences of the expanded childcare entitlement

Get email alerts

Latest release

Next release November 2025

All releases in this series

Download all data (ZIP)Create your own tables

• Produced by: Department for Education
• Published: 25 September 2025

On this page

Skip in page navigation

Explore data used in this release

This page provides a range of routes to access data from within this statistical release to suit different users.

Download all data (ZIP)

This includes all data sets, guidance files and any supporting files

More options

• Featured tables

  Featured tables are pre-prepared tables created from a statistical release's data sets. They provide statistics that are regularly requested by users and can be adapted to switch between different categories.

• Data sets: download or create tables

  Data sets present comprehensive open data from which users can create their own tables using the EES table tool or download a zipped CSV file.

• Data guidance

  Description of the data sets included in this release, including information on data sources, coverage, quality and any data conventions used.

• Data catalogue

  Alternatively use our data catalogue to search and filter for specific data sets from this release or our entire library, providing full data summaries, data previews and access to API data sets.

---

Featured tables

Featured tables are pre-prepared tables created from a statistical release's data sets. They provide statistics that are regularly requested by some users (such as local councils, regional government or government policy teams) and can be adapted to switch between different categories (such as different geographies, time periods or characteristics where available).

20 featured tables

• Ease of the working families childcare entitlement application process by annual household income (before tax)

  The extent to which respondents agreed the entitlement application process was easy to follow, broken down by annual household income

  View, edit or download

• Ease of entitlement application process by region

  The extent to which respondents agreed the entitlement application process was easy to follow, broken down by region

  View, edit or download

• Whether accessing childcare entitlements by respondent disability

  Whether respondents were accessing the working parents childcare entitlement, broken down by whether respondents had a disability

  View, edit or download

• Comparing childcare waiting lists for respondents who have SEND children and no SEND children

  Whether their child was placed on a waiting list before accessing their entitlement place, broken down by whether respondents look after any children with SEND

  View, edit or download

• Challenges finding a childcare place by respondent disability

  Challenges respondents experienced finding a childcare place, broken down by whether respondent had a disability

  View, edit or download

• Restrictions on usage of childcare hours by main childcare type

  Whether there are any restrictions from respondents' main provider about when they can use their funded hours, broken down by the childcare type they claimed the majority of their entitlement hours on

  View, edit or download

• Reasons for using formal childcare by household income

  What influenced respondents' decisions to use formal childcare, broken down by annual household income

  View, edit or download

• Weekly childcare hours by whether respondents look after any children with SEND

  Hours of formal childcare used in a typical week, broken down by whether respondents look after any children with SEND

  View, edit or download

• Tax free childcare usage

  Whether respondents use tax free childcare

  View, edit or download

• Changes in amount of tax free childcare used

  Whether respondents will change the amount of tax free childcare they use (alongside the 15 funded hours they receive)

  View, edit or download

• Satisfaction with number of hours offered by childcare provider

  How satisfied respondents were with the number of hours offered by their main childcare provider, overall and broken down by the type of childcare they claimed the majority of entitlement hours on

  View, edit or download

• Satisfaction with opening hours of childcare provider

  How satisfied respondents were with the opening hours of their main childcare provider, overall and broken down by the type of childcare they claimed the majority of their entitlement hours on

  View, edit or download

• Satisfaction with days per week offered by childcare provider

  How satisfied respondents were with the days per week offered by their main childcare provider, overall and broken down by the type of childcare they claimed the majority of their entitlement hours on

  View, edit or download

• Satisfaction with weeks per year offered by childcare provider

  How satisfied respondents were with the weeks per year offered by their main childcare provider, overall and broken down by the type of childcare they claimed the majority of entitlement hours on

  View, edit or download

• Additional charges paid to providers

  Proportion of respondents who paid various types of additional childcare charges

  View, edit or download

• Change in working hours since respondents started claiming entitlements by whether look after any children with SEND

  How respondents' working hours have changed since they started claiming childcare entitlements, broken down by whether respondents look after any children with SEND

  View, edit or download

• Change in working hours since respondents started claiming entitlements by respondent disability

  How respondents' working hours have changed since they started claiming childcare entitlements, broken down by whether respondent had a disability

  View, edit or download

• Change in working hours since respondents started claiming entitlements by perceptions of affordability

  How respondents' working hours have changed since they started claiming childcare entitlements, broken down by the extent to which respondents agree childcare is affordable

  View, edit or download

• Influence of childcare entitlement on change in working hours by weekly childcare hours used

  How influential respondents thought the introduction of the childcare entitlements were in their decision to change their working hours, broken down by hours of childcare used in a typical week

  View, edit or download

• Influence of childcare entitlement on change in working hours by whether respondents look after any children with SEND

  How influential respondents thought the introduction of the childcare entitlements were in their decision to change their working hours, broken down by whether they look after any children with SEND

  View, edit or download

---

Data sets: download or create tables

Data sets present comprehensive open data from which users can create their own tables using the EES table tool or download a zipped CSV file.

27 data sets available for download

Download all (ZIP)

• Section 2 - Ease of the working families childcare entitlement process

  National

  The extent respondents agreed the entitlement application process was easy to follow, broken down by several demographics.

  • Number of rows: 75
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Demographic group
    • Whether agree that application process was easy
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 2 - Ease of the working families childcare entitlement process by region

  National, Regional

  The extent respondents agreed the entitlement application process was easy to follow, broken down by regions in England.

  • Number of rows: 50
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Whether agree that application process was easy
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 2 - Accessing the 15 hours funded working families childcare entitlement

  National

  Whether respondents were accessing the 15 hours working parents childcare entitlement, broken down by several demographics.

  • Number of rows: 22
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Whether accessing 15 hours working parents entitlements
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 2 - Accessing the 15 hours funded working families childcare entitlement by region

  National, Regional

  Whether respondents were accessing the 15 hours working parents childcare entitlement, broken down by regions in England.

  • Number of rows: 20
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Whether accessing 15 hours working parents entitlements
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 2 - Reasons for not accessing the 15 hours funded working families childcare entitlement

  National

  Reasons respondents were not using their 15 hours childcare entitlement.

  • Number of rows: 15
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Demographic group
    • Reason not used working parents entitlement
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 3 - Waiting lists

  National

  Whether children were placed on a waitlist before accessing entitlements, or are currently on a waiting list (for respondents not currently claiming their entitlement), broken down by several demographics.

  • Number of rows: 8
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Whether placed on waiting list before accessing entitlement
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 3 - Challenges finding a childcare place

  National

  Challenges experienced when finding a childcare place, broken down by several demographics.

  • Number of rows: 45
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Challenges experienced finding a childcare place
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 3 - Restrictions on usage of funded childcare hours

  National

  Whether there are any restrictions from respondents' main provider about when they can use their funded hours. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by main childcare type.

  • Number of rows: 12
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Any provider restrictions on when funded hours can be used
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 3 - What restrictions faced on usage of childcare hours

  National

  Whether the restrictions from respondents' main provider about when they can use their funded hours.

  • Number of rows: 7
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Demographic group
    • Provider restrictions on when funded hours can be used
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Childcare arrangements used

  National

  Proportions of respondents reporting using each type of childcare arrangement.

  • Number of rows: 10
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Types of childcare arrangement
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Factors influencing respondent's decision to use formal childcare

  National

  Reasons respondents use formal childcare. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by household income.

  • Number of rows: 91
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Reasons for using formal childcare
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Hours per week spent in formal childcare

  National

  Average hours of formal childcare used in a typical week. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by several demographics.

  • Number of rows: 12
  • Indicators:
    • Mean hours of childcare used per week
    • Median hours of childcare used per week
  • Filters:
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Hours per week spent in formal childcare by region

  National, Regional

  Average hours of formal childcare used in a typical week. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by regions in England.

  • Number of rows: 10
  • Indicators:
    • Mean hours of childcare used per week
    • Median hours of childcare used per week
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Tax free childcare usage

  National

  Whether respondents use tax free childcare.

  • Number of rows: 4
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Whether uses tax free childcare
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Tax free childcare change in amount used

  National

  Whether respondents will change the amount of tax free childcare they use.

  • Number of rows: 4
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Will change the amount of tax free childcare used?
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Satisfaction with number of hours offered by childcare provider

  National

  How satisfied respondents were with the number of hours offered by their main childcare provider. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by main childcare type.

  • Number of rows: 20
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Satisfaction with the number of childcare hours offered by main provider
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Satisfaction with opening hours of childcare provider

  National

  How satisfied respondents were with the opening hours of their main childcare provider. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by main childcare type.

  • Number of rows: 20
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Satisfaction with opening hours of main provider
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Satisfaction with days per week offered by childcare provider

  National

  How satisfied respondents were with the days per week offered by their main childcare provider. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by main childcare type.

  • Number of rows: 20
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Satisfaction with days per week offered by main provider
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 4 - Satisfaction with weeks per year offered by childcare provider

  National

  How satisfied respondents were with the weeks per year offered by their main childcare provider. Data is given for all respondents (Total) and broken down by main childcare type.

  • Number of rows: 20
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Satisfaction with weeks per year offered by main provider
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 5 - Change in childcare costs since entitlements introduced in April 2024

  National

  How respondents' childcare costs changed since the entitlements were introduced in April 2024. Data is broken down by main childcare type and household income.

  • Number of rows: 27
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Change in childcare costs since April 2024
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 5 - Change in childcare costs since entitlements introduced in April 2024 by region

  National, Regional

  How respondents' childcare costs changed since the entitlements were introduced in April 2024. Data is broken down by regions in England.

  • Number of rows: 30
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Change in childcare costs since April 2024
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 5 - Additional extra charges paid to providers

  National

  Proportion of respondents who paid various types of additional childcare charges.

  • Number of rows: 24
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Additional charges from childcare provider
    • Demographic group
    • Whether charge must be paid to take up place
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 6 - Changes in working hours since respondents started claiming working families entitlements

  National

  How respondents' working hours have changed since respondents started claiming working families entitlements, broken down by several demographics.

  • Number of rows: 68
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Change in working hours since respondent started claiming entitlements
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 6 - Changes in working hours since respondents started claiming working families entitlements by region

  National, Regional

  How respondents' working hours have changed since respondents started claiming working families entitlements, broken down by regions in England.

  • Number of rows: 40
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Change in working hours since respondent started claiming entitlements
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 6 - Influence of the expansion to Early Years childcare entitlements on respondent working hours

  National

  How influential respondents thought the introduction of the childcare entitlements were in their decision to change their working hours, broken down by several demographics.

  • Number of rows: 75
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Influence of entitlements on change in work hours since respondent started claiming entitlements
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 6 - Plans to change childcare hours used once 30 hours available from September 2025

  National

  Respondents' plans to change the number of hours of childcare they use once the 30 hours entitlement is available from September 2025.

  • Number of rows: 4
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Planned change in childcare hours once 30 hours entitlement available from September 2025
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

• Section 6 - Reasons to change childcare hours used from September 2025

  National

  Respondents' main reasons for wishing to change the number of hours of childcare they use from September 2025, broken down by household income.

  • Number of rows: 42
  • Indicators:
    • Proportion of respondents
  • Filters:
    • Reasons for planning to change childcare hours used in September 2025
    • Demographic group
  • Time period: 2025

  Data set information page
  Create table

---

Data guidance

Description of the data sets included in this release, including information on data sources, coverage, quality and any data conventions used.

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 and definitions used.

Coverage

This publication provides information on a survey of parents [who received a childcare code for their children aged 9 months to 2 years]. It covers parents’ experiences finding, applying for and using childcare provision and changes to their employment, including:

1. Household characteristics of survey respondents
2. Respondents' experiences of the entitlement application process
3. Barriers to accessing childcare such as waiting lists, challenges when applying and restrictions from providers
4. Types of childcare used, reasons for using childcare and satisfaction with provision
5. Changing costs of childcare and additional charges respondents pay to providers
6. Changes in respondents' employment patterns and childcare usage following the entitlements expansion

---

Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about Expansion to early childcare entitlements: Childcare Experiences Survey statistics and data:

Early Years Entitlements Evaluation and Analysis Team

Email: Your.childcare@education.gov.uk
Contact name: Gabriela Rodriguez

Press office

If you have a media enquiry:

Telephone: 020 7783 8300

Public enquiries

If you have a general enquiry about the Department for Education (DfE) or education:

Phone: 0370 000 2288

Opening times

Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm (closed on bank holidays)