Registrations for funded ELC

Table 2 shows that there were 90,264 child registrations in September 2025, similar to September 2024 when there were 90,321 registrations. Registrations dropped considerably in 2020 before increasing in 2021 and 2022. However, registrations have since decreased. A decrease in the number of child registrations is expected given that National Records of Scotland (NRS) estimated the population of children of this age to have decreased over this time period.

The eligible population for each age group for September 2025 has been calculated using NRS population projections based on Scotland’s Census 2022, adjusted to the date of the ELC census. These are then used to calculate uptake rates. Uptake rates for previous years have been revised from previous publications due to the publication of revised mid-year population estimates by NRS, based on Scotland’s Census 2022 data. Using these updated NRS population figures improves the accuracy of uptake rate calculations. However, inaccuracies in the estimated eligible population may still exist due to the difficulties of measuring an ever-changing population. There may also be inaccuracies in uptake rates due to children registered for funded provision at more than one setting being counted multiple times, and at local authority level where children receive their funded ELC in a different local authority to the one they live in. These potential inaccuracies may result in uptake rates over 100%.

For three year olds, only around half of children are eligible at the time of the ELC census since three year old eligibility begins the term after the child’s third birthday.

The eligible population of two year olds was calculated for the first time in 2023 using aggregated data on households in Scotland in receipt of the qualifying benefits for this provision and with a child of the relevant age, combined with information on children eligible for non-economic reasons. For more information on eligible population calculations, please see the background note.

Table 2: Registrations and uptake rates for funded ELC, 2017 to 2025

Number of funded registrations and proportion of the population registered for funded ELC from 2017 to 2025 [note 1] [note 2]. This data is also available in Table 3 of the additional tables.

[note 1] This is a snapshot of registrations at census week (8-12 September 2025). It does not include children who were registered between census week and the end of December.

[note 2] Uptake rates have been revised from 2012 to 2024 due to the availability of revised NRS mid-year population estimates for these years.

[note 3] Eligible children are estimated using data from DWP and HMRC on households with an 18 to 36 month old who are in receipt of qualifying benefits to target the offer of funded ELC to these families, combined with information on children eligible for non-economic reasons. This data was not available prior to 2023.

[note 4] Refers to academic year -  3 and 4 year olds were previously referred to as ‘ante pre-school’ and ‘pre-school’  respectively.

[note 5] Eligible children for 2025 are estimated from National Records of Scotland population projections. Around a quarter of two year olds are eligible for funded ELC. For three year olds, only around half of children are eligible at the time of the census. For the majority of local authorities children are counted once for each centre they are registered with, so the same child may be counted multiple times if they attend more than one centre. These figures will also be affected by any inaccuracies in the NRS population figures.

[note 6] Refers to children who are eligible to attend primary school but have deferred entry and remain in funded ELC.

[note 7] Eligibility figures for deferral are calculated on the assumption that all children born from September to February inclusive are eligible for funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school. Children born after school commencement date in mid-August can also defer entry to primary school, but they are not included in the calculation for the percentage of those eligible for deferred entry to avoid double counting with the 4 year old category.

Chart 1 shows the proportion of children registered for funded ELC from 2017 to 2025.

Chart 1: Proportion of population registered for funded ELC from 2017 to 2025

The proportion of the eligible population registered for funded ELC from 2017 to 2025. This data is also available in Table 3 of the additional tables.

A breakdown of child registrations and uptake rates by local authority is shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Registrations and uptake rates for funded early learning and childcare

Number of registrations [note 1] and uptake rates for funded early learning and childcare in September 2025, by local authority and age of child. This data is also available in Table 4 of the additional tables. [note 2]

For [note 1], [note 3], [note 4], [note 5], [note 6] and [note 7] see notes for Table 2.

[note 2] Cells with a c have been suppressed in order to maintain confidentiality where the number of children is between 1 and 4 inclusive, or where, if shown, it would be possible to calculate other values less than 5.

[note 8] These local authorities identified and removed instances of children who were registered at more than one centre being counted multiple times.

Three and four year old 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. Uptake has remained consistently high for this age group for many years. Children registered to receive funded ELC at more than one centre may be counted more than once, thereby slightly overestimating true uptake. Children may also attend centres outside of the local authority they live in, which will affect uptake figures at a local authority level.

Two year old registrations

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. Before 2023, both the number and proportion of two year olds registered had been increasing annually since 2017, with the exception of 2020 when both measures decreased. Between 2023 and 2025, the number of two year olds registered has remained broadly stable.

The estimated uptake rate for eligible two year olds was 55% in 2025, a decrease from 57% in 2024. However, it remains higher than the rate in 2023 of 52% when uptake for eligible two year olds was first calculated.

The uptake rate for eligible two year olds varies greatly by local authority. The highest uptake rate was in Clackmannanshire (88%). The lowest uptake rate was in Argyll & Bute (32%).

Deferred registrations

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. The proportion of children eligible for deferred entry registered for funded ELC has increased every year since 2013. As of 1st August 2023, all children who turn five after the start of the school year are eligible for an additional year of funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school. Prior to this, children born in January and February were entitled to additional funded ELC, while children born between September and December were funded at the discretion of the local authority (although these children were included in the eligible population calculations). The change in legislation is likely to have been a significant factor in the increase in uptake of funded deferral places.

Child characteristics

Of the 90,264 registrations for funded ELC in 2025, 9,980 (11%) were recorded as having a home language other than English, Gaelic, Scots or Sign Language. This proportion has remained similar since 2023 following a slight increase prior to this.

A total of 1,820 children registered were assessed or declared disabled, representing 2% of all registrations. The number of children assessed or declared disabled has increased slightly every year since 2020 and is now at its highest level since collection of this data began in 2017.

16,810 children registered for funded ELC had an additional support need (ASN) recorded, 19% of child registrations. This is the same proportion as in 2024. The proportion of children with ASN had been generally increasing over time from 2020. The most common ASN reported were language, speech and communication issues (8% of registrations), English as an additional language (6%) and social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (6%).

A total of 9,920 children registered (11% of registrations) had a support plan in place at the time of the census, the same proportion as in 2024. The most common support plan in place was a Child Plan (5% of registrations). The remaining registrations with a support plan had a Co-ordinated Support Plan, an Individualised Educational Programme, or another form of support. More information on support plans can be found in the definitions and glossary section of this report.