The instructions on this page were different in the following release(s):
3.84 | 3.80

Census Dates

Release Notes 3.85
Statutory - Early Years Census

Every local authority is required to provide an individual child level early years census return in 2025 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 16th January 2025.

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

COLLECT Deadline

The deadline for loading data onto COLLECT is Friday 7th March 2025.

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 11th April 2025.