Early Years Census dates for the 2026/27 Academic year
Autumn 2026 Early Years Census - Thursday 1 October 2026
Spring 2027 Early Years Census - Thursday 21 January 2027
Summer 2027 Early Years Census – Thursday 20 May 2027
Early Years and School Census Guidance:
Children should be recorded on either the School Census or the Early Years Census, not both, unless where their funded hours are split between different settings. Total funded hours must not exceed 15 hours, or 30 hours where extended entitlement applies.
Registered pupils of a school, including children in academy-run early years provision, should be included in the School Census.
Children attending a separate Ofsted-registered PVI provider on a school site should be included in the Early Years Census.
Children attending maintained school governor-run provision (where they are not registered pupils) should be recorded in the Early Years Census as State-funded governor run.
Schools should cross-check both censuses before submission to avoid duplicate records.