Early Years Data Collection

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department for Education has asked all local authorities to collect information from any setting offering early years places on a weekly basis, which is collected from primary and infant schools via an online form.

The DfE needs to have data about attendance at, and availability of, Early Years provision. This is critical to informing their decision-making around support for the sector, particularly in the light of the increasing rate of infections in certain parts of the country. The DfE have confirmed that this weekly data collection will carry on at least until the end of November.

Some schools have fed back to us that they have some difficulties gathering data about the children of keyworkers. The DfE have recognised that collecting data on the children of keyworkers can be time consuming and so this question may be removed from the form in the near future.

Please can you ensure that the online form is completed by 4pm on Thursday each week.