The instructions on this page were different in the following release(s):
3.80 | 3.79 | 3.78 | 3.76 | 3.75

Census Dates

Release Note for Autumn 2023 (3.81)

Every local authority is required to provide an individual child level early years census return in 2023 to the DfE.

Every funded EY setting in England is required to provide the necessary information to their local authority to enable them to complete this return. The EY Census is required from any PVI setting where one or more of their children are receiving early education that is funded by the department.

Census Day

The early years census day is Thursday 18th January 2024.

The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.

COLLECT Deadline

The deadline for loading data onto COLLECT is Friday 8th March 2024.

This is to allow for error correction, credibility checking and authorisation to take place before the collection closes.

Submission Deadline

The deadline for submission of data to the DfE is Friday 12th April 2024.