Regional and National Trends and Analysis for UK Childcare
Ofsted registered places in England.
In the world of childcare provision across the United Kingdom, a dynamic tapestry of services and regions awaits exploration. From bustling urban centres to tranquil rural landscapes, the varied childcare settings offer a mosaic of experiences for families seeking quality care for their little ones.
Join us in this insightful analysis that peers into the years between 2018 and 2022, unraveling the evolving patterns, shifts, and disparities in childcare settings across the UK. From examining shifts in school-based providers offering nursery services to understanding the fluctuations among group-based providers and childminders, this analysis aims to offer you an in-depth perspective on the diverse world of childcare settings.
This exploration unveils the statistics, percentages, and annual changes in childcare provision, inviting you to uncover the nuanced landscape of early years' education and care across the UK's different regions.
Number of Ofsted registered childcare places in England (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022)
Total childcare providers (Ofsted approved) in the UK (Gov)
Total Childcare Settings
In total, the number of registered childcare settings showed a fluctuating pattern from 2018 to 2022, with an initial increase to 1,553,900 in 2021, then a slight decrease to 1,543,000 by 2022.
These trends depict variations in the numbers of different childcare providers across the years, with some showing consistent growth or decline while others remained relatively stable.
School-Based Providers Offering Nursery
From 2018 to 2019, there was a slight decrease from 290,700 to 287,800, followed by an increase to 313,900 in 2021. However, by 2022, it dropped again to 292,300.
Maintained Nursery Schools
The number of maintained nursery schools remained relatively consistent between 2018 and 2019. There was a small rise to 38,400 in 2021, but it declined to 35,600 in 2022.
All School-Based Providers
Overall, the total of all school-based providers showed a stable trend. There was a slight increase from 2018 to 2021 (from 327,900 to 352,300), but it returned to the initial number of 327,900 by 2022.
Private Group-Based Providers
The count of private group-based providers witnessed a consistent growth from 662,900 in 2018 to 757,200 in 2022, showing a steady increase over the years.
Voluntary Group-Based Providers
The numbers of voluntary group-based providers remained relatively stable from 2018 to 2021 (around 273,000 to 265,200) but saw a decline to 231,400 by 2022.
All Group-Based Providers
The overall trend for all group-based providers followed a similar pattern as the voluntary ones, with a small increase from 2018 to 2021 (968,900 to 1,008,600) and then a slight decrease to 1,044,500 by 2022.
Childminders
There was a steady decline in the count of childminders from 2018 to 2022, dropping from 221,600 to 170,700.
While the overall trend over the past year has shown a decline in childcare spaces, a closer look reveals an interesting dynamic: a noticeable decrease in childminders and publicly funded childcare has corresponded with a significant increase in private sector nurseries. This shift could likely be attributed to substantial funding directed towards private operators, potential economies of scale in their operations, and the provision of higher wages, making the private sector more attractive within the childcare landscape."
Number of Ofsted registered childcare places by provider type and region (2022)
Total childcare providers by region (Ofsted approved) in the UK (Gov)
North East region:
- School-based providers offering nursery: 23,500 places (36% of the total places)
- Maintained nursery schools: 2,500 places (4% of the total places)
- All school-based providers: 25,300 places (38% of the total places)
- Private group-based providers: 5,200 places (8% of the total places)
- Voluntary group-based providers: 8,200 places (12% of the total places)
- All group-based providers: 33,900 places (52% of the total places)
- Childminders: 8,200 places (12% of the total places)
- Total places: 65,700
North West:
- School-based providers offering nursery: 51,000 places (23% of the total places)
- Maintained nursery schools: 5,000 places (2% of the total places)
- All school-based providers: 118,700 places (53% of the total places)
- Private group-based providers: 25,200 places (11% of the total places)
- Voluntary group-based providers: 20,200 places (9% of the total places)
- All group-based providers: 150,800 places (68% of the total places)
- Childminders: 20,200 places (9% of the total places)
- Total places: 222,000
Yorkshire and The Humber:
- School-based providers offering nursery: 37,200 places (26% of the total places)
- Maintained nursery schools: 3,000 places (2% of the total places)
- All school-based providers: 62,700 places (43% of the total places)
- Private group-based providers: 20,900 places (15% of the total places)
- Voluntary group-based providers: 17,600 places (12% of the total places)
- All group-based providers: 89,400 places (62% of the total places)
- Childminders: 17,600 places (12% of the total places)
- Total places: 144,200
East Midlands:
- School-based providers offering nursery: 24,100 places (19% of the total places)
- Maintained nursery schools: 2,500 places (2% of the total places)
- All school-based providers: 68,600 places (53% of the total places)
- Private group-based providers: 19,400 places (15% of the total places)
- Voluntary group-based providers: 13,200 places (10% of the total places)
- All group-based providers: 91,200 places (71% of the total places)
- Childminders: 13,200 places (10% of the total places)
- Total places: 128,400
West Midlands:
- School-based providers offering nursery: 42,700 places (27% of the total places)
- Maintained nursery schools: 6,700 places (4% of the total places)
- All school-based providers: 81,000 places (51% of the total places)
- Private group-based providers: 17,600 places (11% of the total places)
- Voluntary group-based providers: 13,400 places (8% of the total places)
- All group-based providers: 103,000 places (65% of the total places)
- Childminders: 13,400 places (8% of the total places)
- Total places: 159,100
East of England:
- School-based providers offering nursery: 30,300 places (18% of the total places)
- Maintained nursery schools: 3,900 places (2% of the total places)
- All school-based providers: 71,800 places (43% of the total places)
- Private group-based providers: 36,200 places (22% of the total places)
- Voluntary group-based providers: 22,200 places (13% of the total places)
- All group-based providers: 113,100 places (68% of the total places)
- Childminders: 22,200 places (13% of the total places)
- Total places: 165,600
London:
- School-based providers offering nursery: 65,000 places (24% of the total places)
- Maintained nursery schools: 7,200 places (3% of the total places)
- All school-based providers: 147,500 places (54% of the total places)
- Private group-based providers: 22,800 places (8% of the total places)
- Voluntary group-based providers: 26,200 places (10% of the total places)
- All group-based providers: 179,900 places (66% of the total places)
- Childminders: 26,200 places (10% of the total places)
- Total places: 271,100
Cross-regional analysis highlighting trends in childcare settings
North Regions (North East, North West, Yorkshire and The Humber):
- Significantly higher reliance on childminders, ranging from 52% to 68% of total childcare places.
- Suggests a preference for personalised, home-based care rather than group-based settings.
- Indicates a potential cultural or regional inclination towards individualised care and close-knit childcare.
Midlands (East Midlands, West Midlands):
- Greater reliance on group-based providers, contributing to 71% and 65% of total places, respectively.
- Reflects a tendency towards structured childcare environments, possibly preferred due to work schedules or urbanisation in these areas.
East (East of England):
- Shows a balance between group-based providers (68%) and childminders (13%), indicating a preference for both structured care environments and personalised care.
South (London, South East, South West):
- Demonstrates a trend toward structured childcare settings with reliance on group-based providers.
- Childminders represent a lower proportion of total childcare places compared to other regions, ranging from 13% to 26%.
These trends might be influenced by various factors such as cultural preferences, demographics, urbanisation, and the availability of different childcare options in respective regions.
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