Statutory – Early Years Census (3.87)
Description
This release supports the following changes to the 2026 Census:
- The Census date is 15th Jan 2026.
- Census Date, Collection dates and Submission dates have been updated.
- Uses the DfE provided XSD schema files to validate the generated data.
The 2026 census has been updated to accommodate the September 2025 changes. This is where eligible children from 9 months to 4 years are entitled to up to 30 hours of childcare per week (up to 1140 hour per year).
This update includes the collection of additional data for under 1’s and 1 year olds. It also includes the expanded hours allowed per child.
DfE requested changes
As a part of new requirements, the DfE do not want to collect No. of Funding Weeks from the 2025 Census. The field has been removed from the following areas:
- Provider Self Update Portal | Early Years Census | Availability and Opening Times
- v4 | Focus | Early Years | Census Return | Census Return Batch Details | Panel 02. Providers | Service and Details | 02. Census Return Establishment Details | Availability and Opening Times
Census Return Establishment Details/Self Update Portal
- v4 | Focus | Early Years | Census Return | Census Return Batch Details | Panel 02. Providers | Service and Details | 0.2 Census Return Establishment Details | Children By Age
- SUPP | Self Update | Census Information | Early Years Census
Two new fields added:
- Number of under 1 year olds
- Number of 1 year olds
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Census Return Pupils Children Details
- v4 | Focus | Early Years | Census Return | Census Return Batch Details | Panel 02. Providers | Service and Details | 0.3 Census Return Pupils Children Details
Updated to include all funded 1 year olds and under for a provider.
Other changes
- New data items added to the <PupilChildStatistics> module
- <EYUnder1s> (N00816)
- <EY1Years> (N00817)
- Existing data items
- Expanded Hours (N00787) has been amended to allow up to 30 hours to be claimed
- Individual <PupilChild> details for FUNDED under 1YO’s and 1YO’s included in the <PupilsChildren> section
- Deleted data items
No data items have been deleted - Error checking/Validations
Updated for new data items