A critical review of the advantages and limitations of using large-scale national surveys to examine childcare patterns and the ECEC workforce in Britain

Figures & data

Table 1. Main advantages and limitations of available UK and England data sources for examining preschool childcare patterns.

Data source	To what extent do the data sources…
	(a) Reliable basis for examining the workforce?	(b) Good picture of usage and provision?	(c) Comparable coverage of GB?
Childcare provision
LFS	Occupation codes separate ‘childcare’ from ‘education’ jobs; excludes managers	Very good detail on ECEC workforce, including work patterns, qualifications and pay	UK-wide; can select different nations of the UK
CEYPS	Counts education and care together	Not as detailed as LFS, especially qualifications	Only England – so other parts of UK excluded
ASHE	Same as LFS	More limited than the LFS: qualifications, pay and hours of workers	Same as LFS
DfE annual statistics on early years provision for children under five years	Covers ‘education’ staff (e.g. primary schools/nursery class staff); no childcare (e.g. nannies, childminders)	Not as detailed as LFS. However, provides good information about relevant qualifications such as ‘Qualified teacher status’ (QTS) or ‘Early Years Professional Status’ (EYPS)	Only England – so other parts of UK excluded
Childcare usage
CEYSP	N/A	Good level of detail – able to compare those using and not using childcare and their characteristics	Only England – so other parts of UK excluded
FRS	N/A	Good level of detail – able to compare those using and not using childcare and their characteristics	UK-wide; can select different nations of the UK
US	N/A	Very few questions and sample size very small	UK-wide; can select different nations of the UK
Informal childcare
LFS	N/A	Hardly any questions – used to be more detailed prior to 2009	UK-wide; can select different nations of the UK
FRS	N/A	Provides estimate of informal care. Detailed questions about carers but only for those caring for children with a disability	UK-wide; can select different nations of the UK
CEYSP	N/A	Provides estimate of informal care but nothing about the characteristics of the carers	Only England – so other parts of UK excluded
BSA	N/A	Stopped including questions after 2009	UK-wide; can select different nations of the UK

Table 2. Comparing the preschool ‘childcare’ workforce codes in SOC 2000 and SOC 2010.

SOC2000 code	SOC2000 label	SOC2010 code	SOC2000 label
6121	Nursery nurses	6121	Nursery nurses & assistants
6122	Childminders and related occupations	6122	Childminders and related occupations
6123	Playgroup leaders/assistants	6123	Playgroup workers

Table 3. Comparing the preschool ‘childcare’ workforce size reported in the LFS and CEYPS in England, 2005–2014.

Data-set	Year	Geography	Size	% change
Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey	2008	England	264,900	1
	2011	England	297,600
	2013	England	254,200
		Total	816,700
Labour Force Survey	2005–2007	Britain	329,372	5
	2008–2010	Britain	328,419
	2012–2014	Britain	313,127
		Total	970,918
	2005–2007	England	282,449	1
	2008–2010	England	285,436
	2012–2014	England	273,842
		Total	841,727