How to Record Childcare for the Spring Census

The article outlines the requirements for schools to report childcare information for the Spring Census, detailing the types of childcare (Before school, After school, Holiday provision, Nursery for ages 0-4) that must be recorded. It provides instructions on how to input this data, including what to do if the school does not offer certain types of childcare and specific conditions for reporting childcare for under 5s. 

Permissions

• School: General Admin: Administer - Required to view, log and edit childcare details under School > School Details > School Details

What do we need to submit?

In the Spring Census, your school is required to provide information on the number and type of childcare places your school provides. 

You must input this information into your site, even if you don't offer this type of childcare or any childcare. 

There are four types of childcare that you have to provide information on:

• B - Before school
• A - After school
• H - Holiday provision
• U - Nursery for ages 0-4 (for more than 9 hours/day, not a provision that is only available during school hours or where children can only attend for a morning or afternoon session).

Reporting Requirements

For each childcare type, you must specify if they provide on-site provision, signpost to off-site provision, or do both.

• On-site: Schools must report details such as opening/closing times (using the 24-hour clock), the number of available places (capacity), and the service provider.

• Signposting: Schools indicate if they have formal arrangements with other providers (including escorts) or simply maintain a list of local providers to assist parents.

If a school does not provide on-site childcare or signpost off-site, they must still record a 'No' for both elements for each childcare type. All data should reflect the 'normal' situation at the school as of census day.

How are the types of childcare defined?

The Department for Education (DfE) requires all schools to provide information on the School Census regarding the provision of, or signposting to, childcare. This applies to four specific categories of childcare defined as:

• Before school: A guaranteed, regular service for working parents before the school formally opens.

• After school: A guaranteed, regular service where children are looked after from the end of the school day until they are collected by parents.

• Holiday: A service usually open Monday to Friday during school holidays. This excludes short-term activities like football camps or language schools.

• Under 5s (Aged 0-4): Regular on-site childcare for more than 9 hours a day. This does not include provision only available during school hours or for single morning/afternoon sessions.

You can find a further explanation of these definitions in the DfE's School census technical information.

How to record child care places

The following shows how to add child care details. Regardless of whether you offer a certain type of childcare or not, you must record this. In total, you should have details for four types of childcare places recorded.

For more details on how to record childcare places if you do or don't offer a type of child care, please refer to the We don't provide a type of childcare and We do provide a type of childcare subsections of this guide.

1. Go to School > School Details.
2. For each type of childcare, you must add the type to the Child Care Places section by clicking +Add.
   
3.  Enter the information for childcare type, location and signposting.
   
4. Click Next Step, then in the next page, input the name and whether or not the childcare takes place until 6pm.
   
5. Click Add Childcare Place.
6. Repeat this untill you have added a record for each of the four types of childcare

We don't provide a type of childcare

If you do not provide a type of childcare at your school, follow these steps:

1. Select the relevant Childcare type
2. Set Childcare location to Not providing On-site or Off-site
3. Set Childcare signposting fields to No.
4. Click Next Step, input a name for the record, and the green Add childcare place button.

We do provide a type of childcare

If you do offer this type of childcare, add the details specific to your school's situation.

Please note that this information will flag an error if you add it:

• Closing Time for Before School Childcare - The closing time is not needed, as the school day will start whenever the club is set to end.
• Opening Time for After School Childcare - The opening time is not needed as the school day will end whenever the club is set to start.
• Weeks Open for either Before or After School Childcare - This is because the clubs will run during the school term so it will match the number of weeks that the school is open for.
   

My school offers childcare for under 5s, and it is for more than 9 hours

If your school offers childcare for under 5s, and it is for more than 9 hours, add Under five childcare to reflect the start and end times.

My school offers childcare for under 5s, but it is for less than 9 hours

If your school offers childcare for under 5s but it is less than 9 hours, you do not need to report this and no record is necessary