Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers

Early years childcare in England is delivered by a large and diverse mix of providers - ranging from childminders, who deliver childcare to small groups of children in their own homes, to large nursery schools.

Detailed information is collected about these providers, and about their childcare provision, via an annual survey. Results from this survey are used to monitor the early years sector and evaluate the impact of government policies, such as the recent expansion to government-funded childcare.

We require contractors to design and carry out three waves of this survey (in 2026, 2027 and 2028). The contractors will need capacity to carry out a large and complex survey (recent surveys have been returned by approximately 10,000 providers each year) at speed. The survey will need to be methodologically robust, in order for its results to be published as Official Statistics.

We will be holding a virtual market engagement event at the beginning of August, to provide more information about the contract for the next wave of surveys and answer questions about the survey.

If you would like to attend and for more information on the date and time please forward your email address to john.canlin@education.gov.uk and you will be sent an invite.