This site is delivered by Worcestershire County Council.

Childcare sufficiency

Information about the sufficiency of childcare within Worcestershire.

Section 6 of the Education Act 2006 sets out the duty of local authorities of securing, as far as is reasonably possible, sufficient places for children aged 9 months to 4 years of age to access their entitlement to funded nursery education. 

In addition, local authorities should secure sufficient childcare to support parents to go back to work or to undertake education or training leading to work.

Childcare sufficiency county maps forecasting summer 2026

Based on the take-up of Nursery Education Funding during the Autumn Term 2025, the following county maps highlight areas forecasting potential insufficiency of funded provision in Summer 2026.

Definitions:

  • insufficient: the estimated supply of funded early years provision is less than the estimated demand for funded early years provision
  • sufficient: the estimated supply of funded early years provision is greater than the estimated demand for funded early years provision
  • within local community: supply and demand estimations take into account levels within the surrounding wards

See the county maps below:

Childcare termly sufficiency tables

Based on the take-up of Nursery Education Funding during the Autumn Term 2025, the following sufficiency tables highlight areas forecasting potential insufficiency of funded provision in each term.

Definitions:

  • insufficient: the estimated supply of funded early years provision is less than the estimated demand for funded early years provision
  • sufficient: the estimated supply of funded early years provision is greater than the estimated demand for funded early years provision
  • within local community: supply and demand estimations take into account levels within the surrounding wards

See the sufficiency tables below:

District based childcare sufficiency maps summer 2025

Based on the take-up of Nursery Education Funding during the Summer Term 2025, the following district maps highlight areas of potential insufficiency of funded provision.

Definitions

  • childminder: early years provision delivery by an Ofsted or childminder agency registered childminder
  • group-based: early years provision delivered by private, voluntary and independent organisations
  • school-run: early years provision delivered by a school, including academy, free, LA maintained and independent schools
  • insufficient: the estimated supply of funded early years provision is less than the estimated demand for funded early years provision
  • sufficient: the estimated supply of funded early years provision is greater than the estimated demand for funded early years provision
  • within local community: supply and demand estimations take into account levels within the surrounding wards

District maps

See the district maps below:

Childcare sufficiency assessment

As part of the LA duty, a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) report is produced to set out and consider places available (supply) and potential demand for early years and childcare provision from families in Worcestershire.

 

Useful links

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