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.

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).

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.  Select the 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.

We don't provide this type of childcare

If you do not offer this type of childcare, set the Childcare signposting and Childcare for other schools fields to No, leaving the others blank. 

We do provide this 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.

Set your Under five childcare as in the screenshot below.