Today (19 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 2025 has fallen by 1,267 since August 2024 (an overall decline of 2% in the last year). This is split into: 

• Childminder*: 24,990 (4% decline since Aug 24) 

• Childcare on non-domestic premises: 27,533 (1% decline since Aug 24) 

• Childcare on domestic premises:  211 (1% decline since Aug 24) 

• Home childcarer: 7,225 (7% decline since Aug 24) 

*This includes the recently introduced category of childminder without domestic premises, of which 34 were registered at 31 August 2025.  

On 31 August 2025, there were 1.29 million childcare places offered by providers registered on the EY. Childminders accounted for 151,676 of these places.  

Coram PACEY childminder survey 

Read yesterday’s findings from Coram PACEY’s survey of almost 3,000 childminders highlighting the issue of three- and four-year-old funding rates.  

Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges, Head of Coram PACEY comments 

“It is disappointing – but sadly not unexpected – to see a continued decline in the number of registered childminders in England. A loss of over 1,000 childminders means over 1,000 small businesses closing their doors, dedicated professionals leaving the workforce and thousands of families needing to search elsewhere for their childcare provision. When you consider the vital role childminders play in supporting children, families and their local communities, this loss is devastating.  

“There are glimmers of hope. We know there are pockets of areas where local authorities are working incredibly hard to support recruitment and retention to help stabilise or even grow the childminder workforce in their area. However, they are doing this against enormous challenges. The most pressing issue remains the chronic underfunding of three- and four-year-old places.  Just yesterday we published findings from almost 3,000 childminders desperately calling for change. Only 4% said the three-and four-year-old rate is adequate to run a sustainable business.  

“Until the Government take the childminder decline seriously and sets out a plan to reverse it, we risk losing this valuable part of the workforce completely and restricting families’ choice and access to childcare.”