Key points

Centres

• At the time of the census 2,558 centres were providing funded ELC, a decrease of 0.7% from 2,575 centres in 2024.

Children

• There were a total of 90,264 child registrations in September 2025, similar to September 2024 when there were 90,321 registrations.
• The number of three and four year olds registered for funded ELC was 74,653 in 2025, similar to 74,591 in 2024. The estimated uptake rate for three and four year olds was 100% in 2025, an increase from 98% in 2024.
• The number of two year old registrations in 2025 was 6,599, similar to 6,613 in 2024. This represents 14% of all two year olds, a slight increase from 13% in 2024. The estimated uptake rate for eligible two year olds was 55% in 2025, a decrease from 57% in 2024.
• The number of deferred registrations for funded ELC was 8,630 in 2025, similar to 8,685 in 2024. This represents 35% of children eligible for a funded deferral place, an increase from 34% in 2024.

Staff

• The total full time equivalent (FTE) of teachers and graduates working to deliver funded ELC in 2025 was 4,808. This is an increase of 3% from 4,672 FTE in 2024, and a 49% increase from 3,236 FTE in 2017.
• The FTE of teachers working in funded ELC in 2025 was 696, an increase of 17 FTE (2%) from 2024. This is the first increase in teacher FTE since 2022.
• There were 4,112 FTE graduates, other than teachers, with degrees relevant to early years in 2025. This is a 3% increase compared with 3,993 FTE recorded in 2024.
• The total FTE for teachers, graduates, and those working towards relevant degree level qualifications in 2025 was 5,898 FTE, a slight increase from 5,860 FTE in 2024 and an increase of 39% from 4,230 in 2017.