Provision for Children Under 5 Years of Age in England

These statistics report on government-funded early education and childcare (early years provision) for children aged 2 to 4 years in England during the week commencing 18 January 2022.

All 3 and 4-year-olds, and eligible disadvantaged 2-year-olds, are entitled to 570 hours of government-funded early years provision a year. This is typically taken as 15 hours a week, over 38 weeks of the year (though it is also possible to take fewer hours over more weeks) and is referred to in these statistics as the 15-hour entitlement. Children aged 4 taking up a place in a state-funded reception class receive their entitlement through reception class provision and as such are included in the number and percentage of children registered for the 15-hour entitlement.

Children aged 3 and 4 with eligible working parents are entitled to an additional 570 hours, taking their total entitlement to 1,140 hours a year. This is typically taken as 30 hours a week over 38 weeks of the year (though it is also possible to take fewer hours over more weeks) and is referred to in these statistics as the 30-hour entitlement.

Data is collected from local authorities covering state-funded schools (including nurseries), and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers (including childminders) as part of the spring school census and the early years census.