Alliance calls for urgent government action as DfE's annual early years provider survey highlights falling provider numbers and rising parent fees

Please find below a comment from the Early Years Alliance following today's release of the Department for Education's annual early years annual childcare and early years provider survey. The survey can be read .

It found that:

  • The number of early years and childcare providers fell by 5% between 2022 and 2023 from 59,400 to 56,300
  • The number of registered childminders in the year fell by 10% to 25,300
  • Parent fees increased for children aged under two, two and aged three-and-four-years-old.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

鈥淭his year鈥檚 survey raises serious concerns about the future of England鈥檚 early years sector, especially when given the rollout of the expanded offer is just months away. 

鈥淭he continued decline in the number of early years providers 鈥 falling 5% in the last year alone 鈥 is a clear sign of just how much pressure the sector is under, and is likely to have serious implications on accessibility and choice for parents when the new scheme is introduced. 

鈥淥nce again, the majority of this decrease is due to the plummeting number of childminders. We at the Alliance have long warned that this vital part of the sector continues to be ignored, sidelined and underappreciated, and are extremely concerned that if this trend continues, this crucial section of the early years will eventually cease to exist.  

鈥淲hat鈥檚 more, it鈥檚 no surprise to see that fees are continuing to increase for children of all ages. Despite the government鈥檚 constant claims of 鈥榬ecord investment鈥 into the sector, it鈥檚 clear that the ongoing failure to address the early years funding gap is pushing prices ever higher and will continue to do so until the government gets a grip on this growing crisis. 

鈥淚t is vital, therefore, that the government reflects on these statistics and puts in place urgent action, including a realistic funding plan, both to stem the number of closures and enable providers to properly prepare for the expansion. The sector simply cannot afford any further delay.鈥