Today, 12 December, the DfE have realised data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England, including: 

• provider characteristics 
• number of places 
• number of children attending 
• staff characteristics and qualifications 
• fees 

Provider characteristics 

Between 2023 and 2024, the total number of providers fell by 1,700 (3 per cent) to 54,700, compared with a 5 per cent fall observed between 2022 and 2023. The total number of school-based providers and group-based providers remained stable, in contrast the number of childminders fell by 7 per cent between 2023 and 2024.  

Analysis of the relationship between how deprived an area is and the proportion of providers shows that childminders represent 35 per cent of all providers in the most deprived areas, ranking second against group-based providers at 36 per cent.  

Childminders are the provider type most likely (89 percent) to be open during both term-time and holidays.

Number of childcare places 

• The estimated number of registered childcare places in England increased by 44,400 (or 3 per cent) between 2023 and 2024, to 1,602,500. 

• The estimated number of registered places at childminders fell by 13 per cent.  

• There is an even age split of children at childminders – 29 per cent are aged under 2, 34 per cent are aged 2 and 38 per cent are aged 3 and 4. 

• On an average weekday in 2024, childminders had an estimated 78,100 children booked on full-day places, a decrease of 8,300 (10 per cent) from 86,400 in 2023. 

Childminders 

An estimated 20 per cent of childminders employed an assistant in 2024, in line with 2023 (19 per cent).  

A further 7 per cent of childminders reported that they were considering employing an assistant, the same proportion as 2023.  

Eleven per cent reported regularly working with another childminder or childminders, in line with 2023 (13 per cent). 

Eight per cent of childminders look after one or more of their own children. Six per cent look after one of their own children, 1 per cent look after two of their own children, and 1 per cent look after three or more of their own children.  

Staff qualifications and characteristics 

• 75 per cent of childminders are qualified to Level 3 or above. 

• 11 per cent of childminders are qualified to Level 6 or higher. 

• 79 per cent of childminders are estimated to be White British. This proportion is lowest in private group-based providers (78 per cent) and highest in voluntary group-based providers (87 per cent). 

• 47 per cent of childminders are aged over 50. 1 per cent of childminders are aged under 25. 17 per cent of childminders are aged between 25 -39 and 34% are aged between 40-49. 

Provider finances 

Staffing costs account for 77 per cent of costs for childminders (Childminder “staffing costs” are the sum of the amount that they pay their assistant(s) (if they have one) and the amount that they pay themselves in the form of a salary.) The second biggest expense for childminders if food.  

Funded entitlement and tax-free childcare 

The proportion of childminders, in particular, looking after 2-year-olds funded through the 15-hour entitlement increased markedly, from 24 per cent in 2023 to 78 per cent in 2024. 

On average, 44 per cent of childminders allow parents to use their funded hours across the year. Childminders were the least likely to restrict entitlements to certain hours of the day.  Nearly 90 per cent of Childminders had no restrictions on when the entitlement could be used. 

94 per cent of childminders (an increase from 91 per cent in 2023) were signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments in 2024. The proportion of parents paying for childcare using Tax-Free Childcare is highest for Childminders – in 2024, 50 per cent of parents of children registered with a childminder used Tax-Free Childcare to pay for their childcare. 

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities 

The proportion of providers looking after at least one child with SEND has increased since 2018. Proportions were the same, however, in 2024 as in 2023 – 85 per cent of school-based providers, 88 per cent of group-based providers and 25 per cent of childminders looked after at least one child with SEND.   

On average, many more children attend school-based and group-based providers than attend a childminder.  This explains why the proportion of childminders looking after at least one child with SEND is lower. 

Provider fees and funding rates 

In 2024, childminders continued to charge the lowest hourly fees.  

For both 2-year-olds and 3- to 4-year-olds, private group-based providers charged parents the highest hourly fees and childminders the lowest fees. For children under 2 years of age nursery class childcare settings charged parents the highest hourly fees and childminders the lowest fees.  

Childminders were the least likely to have increased fees. 

With childminders representing 35 per cent of all providers in the most deprived areas this report shows how vital childminders are to making sure all children receive the best start in life. 

Also, with childminders being the most likely provider type to be open during both term-time and holidays and with the proportion of parents paying for childcare using Tax-Free Childcare highest for childminders, they are such an important childcare option for working parents and families to have access to. 

Like many providers however, the report shows that they face their own challenges from rising cost of food and employing assistants, the Government needs to address the decline in childminder numbers with a national childminding strategy. 

Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges, Head of Membership and Marketing, PACEY