Today (11 December), the Department for Education (DfE) published its latest data release on childcare and early years provision in England from the 2025 edition of the DfE’s Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers. The data offers valuable insights into childminder demographics, qualifications and finances. 

Provider characteristics and childcare places 

• The DfE reports that the number of registered childcare providers fell by 1 per cent to 53,600 between 2024-25. The decline in childminders during this time was 5 per cent.  
• Between 2018-25, the total number of registered childcare providers fell by almost 20 per cent (childminders decreased by 39 per cent – a loss of 14,200 childminders).  
• The number of early years places in England increased by 1 per cent to 1,620,800 with childminder providers making up 145,700 of these places.  
• There was an even age split of children across childminder provision: 31 per cent of children with childminder providers were under two, 31 per cent aged two and 38 per cent aged 3 to 4.  

Workforce demographics 

• 97 per cent of the childminding workforce were women, compared to 98 per cent for other provider types. 
• Around 19 per cent employed an assistant (in line with 20 per cent the previous year). 
• Childminders had an older demographic of staff compared to group-based providers: 1 per cent of childminders were aged under 25 years, 17 per cent aged 25-39, 35 per cent aged 40-49 and 47 per cent were aged 50 and older.  

Qualifications

• 76 per cent of childminders were qualified at Level 3 or above, and 11 per cent were qualified at Level 6 or above. This compared to 79 per cent and 11 per cent for group-based providers.  
• For childminding assistants, 34 per cent were qualified at Level 3 or above and 5 per cent Level 6 or above.  

Provider finances

• For childminders, the highest proportion of all costs was staffing costs accounting for 70 per cent (this includes the amount childminders pay their assistants as well as salary for themselves taken from overall income). The second highest was food costs, accounting for 11 per cent.  

Tax-Free Childcare

• The proportion of parents paying for childcare using Tax-Free Childcare is highest for childminders – 50 per cent of parents of children registered with a childminder used Tax-Free Childcare to pay for their childcare (compared to 31 per cent for group-based providers).  

Provider fees

• For 2024/25 childminders charged the lowest hourly fees for children aged two and below and were less likely to increase their fees than group-based providers. 41 per cent of childminders increased their fees in the 12 months, compared to 69 per cent among group-based providers.  
• The proportion of early years providers who reported an increase in fees in the last 12 months was around 5 per cent lower than in last year’s provider survey.  

Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges, Head of Coram PACEY comments 

“The latest DfE findings highlight just how vital childminders are in supporting families and the important role they play within the sector. 

Whilst training is not currently a requirement in the EYFS, 76 per cent of childminders are still qualified at a level three or above, showing their commitment to education and providing the best start in life for all children. Childminders are also dedicated to supporting families with affordability, as the proportion of parents using Tax-Free Childcare to contribute to their childcare costs is highest for childminders (50 per cent). 

We can take a lot from these findings and childminders should be proud of the contribution they make to the sector. However, we have lost over 1,000 childminders and we must be steadfast in our mission to reverse the decline in registered childminders if we are to ensure that they continue to provide this level of quality childcare and education in the future. 

We need urgent investment targeted at recruiting and retaining high quality early education professionals.  We look forward to working closely with the DfE as it undertakes its promised review of early education provision and funding to ensure that the sector can continue to provide high quality and accessible early education and childcare that all children deserve.”