Percentage of eligible 2 year olds and all 3 and 4 year olds participating in early years education

Sub-categories

Choose categories from the dropdowns below to see different breakdowns of the data. Some will not be available until a higher level is chosen.

Download Source CSV

Download source CSV for disaggregations

No headline data available

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Percentage of eligible 2 year olds and all 3 and 4 year olds participating in early years education
Indicator description

Percentage of children under 5 taking part in early years education
Geographical coverage

England
Unit of measurement

Percentage (%)
Definitions

The percentage of children under 5 in early years education is defined as the percentage of children under 5 in funded early education provision, made up of the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors. For 2 year olds, population has been calculated using data supplied by DWP on the estimated eligible population, whilst for 3 and 4 year olds it has been calculated from the ONS population estimates.
Available disaggregations
Calculations

The number of 3 and 4 year old children in the relevant age group who participate in an organized learning programme is expressed as a percentage of the total population in the same age range. For 2 year olds, this is expressed as a percentage of the estimated eligible population calculated from data supplied by DWP.
Other information

Children who are temporarily absent during census week are still recorded in this dataset. However, for January 2021 the proportion of children temporarily absent is a lot higher due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown in the UK.

This indicator is being used as an approximation of the UN SDG Indicator. Where possible, we will work to identify or develop UK data to meet the global indicator specification. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts.
Data last updated 11 November 2021
Metadata last updated 16 November 2021

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name

Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex
Target name

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre‐primary education so that they are ready for primary education
Global indicator description
UN designated tier

Tier I
UN custodian agency

United Nations Education and Scientific Cultural Organisation - Institute of Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 4.2 opens in a new window
Organisation

Department for Education
Periodicity

Annual
Earliest available data

2011
Geographical coverage

England
Link to data source Education provision - children under 5 years of age opens in a new window
Release date 01 July 2021
Next release

TBC
Statistical classification

National Statistic
Contact details

EarlyYears.STATISTICS@education.gov.uk
Other information
Back to top