Annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2025 now available online

We have a legal duty to ensure there are sufficient childcare places across the borough. Each year, we review local provision to understand the supply and demand in Barnsley.

Our Annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2025 is now available on our website and includes data up to the summer term 2025.

The assessment provides parents and carers with information about the childcare options and places available in Barnsley to support informed choices for their families.

It also supports childcare providers by setting out the local market position and helping them plan provision to meet families’ needs across the borough.

Key findings from the 2025 assessment includes:

• The number of early years providers in Barnsley increased from 261 to 284.

• The number of early years childcare places increased by 703, from 4,496 in 2024 to 5,199 in 2025.

• The gap between available and filled places reduced, with 136 places unfilled.

• Take-up of universal three- and four-year-old funding remained at 99%, above the national average.

• Take-up of the two-year-old entitlement for families receiving additional support fell from 77% to 71%. This may reflect local capacity pressures following the introduction of new entitlements.

• The January 2025 Early Years Census recorded 259 children with an Education, Health and Care Plan or requiring SEND support.

• The proportion of settings rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted increased by 5% compared to in 2024, to 98%.

To support affordability and help parents and carers to work or increase their hours, the early years entitlements were expanded from September 2025. Eligible working families can access 30 hours of funded childcare from the term after their child turns nine months, up to school age.

Wraparound care is also expanding with the Government’s ambition that, by September 2026, all primary-age children will be able to access before- and after-school childcare between 8am and 6pm, where needed.

The expansion of early years entitlements has increased demand for childcare and wraparound provision across the borough. While the number of providers has grown, further capacity is needed to meet demand.

Recommendations in the report include:

• Continue to expand childcare and wraparound places for children aged nought to three, focusing on priority areas.

• Maintain progress towards the Department for Education target of 997 wraparound places by the September 2026 implementation date.

• Implement initiatives including Best Start in Life and Free Breakfast Clubs, and link wraparound expansion to the Healthy Activities Fund.

• Support providers to maintain high-quality provision in response to Ofsted’s changes introduced in November 2025.

• Continue to increase take-up of the two-year-old entitlement for families receiving additional support.

• Encourage providers to extend opening hours and offer year-round care, including evenings and weekends, to support families who work shifts.

Families can visit the Best Start in Life Parent Hub for information about local childcare options, funded entitlements and additional support, including how to check eligibility and apply.

We will shortly publish a survey to gather feedback from Barnsley families on childcare sufficiency in 2026, including availability, affordability and accessibility. Responses will help inform our ongoing planning and future assessments, and we will share details on how to take part through our council communications channels.