Ofsted Data Indicates That Average Access to Early Years Settings Across England Has Declined Since 2020

Ofsted Data Indicates That Average Access to Early Years Settings Across England Has Declined Since 2020

An analysis of Ofsted data published on 16th October reveals that access to early years settings in England has declined since March 2020. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also shows that families with lower incomes and those in more deprived areas have been disproportionately affected by this reduction.

Key findings from the research include:

The decline in access to early education is uneven across the country.

• Regions with persistently low childcare access are often those with higher levels of deprivation and lower-than-average incomes.
• Areas with consistently high childcare access tend to be more affluent, with higher household incomes.

In Ofsted’s analysis notes, they state that “In the last decade, the number of childcare providers in England has dropped by a third.” Reduced childcare access can negatively impact early childhood development in affected areas, it also makes it harder for parents, particularly mothers, to work without reliable access to childcare.

The analysis covers Ofsted-registered childcare places in nurseries, other group settings, and childminders. However, around 300,000 (19%) of childcare places, which are based in schools, are not included in this data. 

You can read more about the findings here.