Today (20 November) Ofsted has published its latest data on early years and childcare providers in England.

Change in provider numbers

The overall number of providers registered with Ofsted at August 2024 has fallen by more than 1,030 since August 2023 (an overall decline of 2% in the last year). This is split into:

• Childminder: 26,542 (4% decline since Aug 23)
• Childcare on non-domestic premises: 27,053 (2% increase)
• Childcare on domestic premises: 213 (5% increase)
• Home childcarer: 7,752 (5% decline)

The decline in childminder numbers appears to be slowing as the number of joiners has increased and the number of leavers has decreased since 2021/22.

Childcare places

The data shows that early years providers offer 1.28 million early year spaces, an increase of 1% since last year.  Childcare on non-domestic premises providers account for 87% of these places, while childminders account for 12% and childcare on domestic premises account for less than 1%. In September 2025, funded childcare will expand to offer 30 hours to children of eligible parents from age 9 months and over.  The DfE previously estimated that around 70,000 new places and 35,000 additional staff will be required to deliver this.

Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive at PACEY said:

“The continued decline in registered early education and childcare providers is deeply concerning. For the government to achieve its ambition to double the funded offer for eligible families next year, we need to see sustained growth and stabilisation of the workforce that will provide it.

We need to see urgent action to reverse the plummeting numbers of childminders, who will play a key part in delivering this policy. While the new flexibilities that came into place earlier this month might provide a small number of childminder businesses an opportunity to expand, they do not go far enough. The sector needs substantial investment to ensure more people join and remain in their profession. Without a long-term strategy to ensure the sustainability of our workforce, children and families will be left without the early years and childcare services they need.”

 PACEY’s Manifesto for Childminders published earlier this year sets out a range of measures that we believe will help to reverse the decline and ensure that childminders remain an integral part of the early years and childcare system.