Demand for Childcare
Demand for Childcare
Department for Education
Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents in England, 2018 and comparison to East Riding
A national survey of parents’ The survey is funded by the Department for Education (DfE), and managed by Ipsos. It aims to provide information to help monitor the progress of policies and public attitudes in the area of childcare and early years education.
The 2021 survey reports the findings of interviews, conducted between July 2021 and April 2022, with a nationally representative sample of 5,955 parents with children aged 0 to 14 in England.
In the absence of local survey data for East Riding, this can provide a valuable understanding of general patterns of use.
NB: Formal childcare = Ofsted registered / paid for. Informal = grandparents, relatives / unpaid
Source: DfE Childcare and early years survey of parents 2021
NB: The likelihood of a child using formal childcare falls if they are living in one of the most deprived areas, and rises in the least deprived areas. Also children are more likely to use formal childcare in households where both parents work, and much less likely where no adults work.
| Use of childcare | Age of child (pre-school) | Age of child (school aged) | ||||||
| 0-2 | 3-4 | All | 5-7 | 8-11 | 12-14 | All | All | |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| Base: All children | 1,075 | 1,649 | 2,724 | 1,078 | 1,217 | 903 | 3,198 | 5,922 |
| Any childcare | 58 | 91 | 73 | 74 | 63 | 47 | 62 | 65 |
| Formal providers | 40 | 88 | 62 | 64 | 48 | 28 | 47 | 52 |
| Nursery school | 9 | 27 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | * | 5 |
| Nursery class attached to a primary or infants' school | 1 | 18 | 9 | * | 0 | 0 | * | 3 |
| Reception class | 0 | 14 | 7 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Day nursery | 18 | 19 | 19 | * | 0 | 0 | * | 6 |
| Playgroup or pre-school | 4 | 9 | 6 | * | 0 | 0 | * | 2 |
| Breakfast club | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 10 | * | 8 | 6 |
| After-school club or activity | 1 | 8 | 4 | 37 | 41 | 26 | 35 | 26 |
| Childminder | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 2 | * | 3 | 4 |
| Nanny or au pair | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | * | 1 | 1 |
| Informal providers | 33 | 30 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 26 | 28 |
| Ex-partner | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Grandparent | 28 | 22 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 18 |
| Older sibling | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Another relative | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Friend or neighbour | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| No childcare used | 42 | 9 | 27 | 26 | 37 | 53 | 38 | 35 |
Source: Childcare and early years survey of parents
Notes: The use of an asterisk in a table denotes a percentage value of less than 0.5% but more than 0.
Deprivation in Children’s Centre Areas
East Riding is generally an affluent area and is ranked amongst the least socially deprived areas in England, but has pockets of significant deprivation in places such as Bridlington, Goole and South-East Holderness. The median gross weekly pay for residents in East Riding is currently £609 (a rise of £54 from 2020), which is above that of our neighbouring authority of £510.20 and slightly above the national average of £595.50 However, 35% of all jobs in East Riding were being paid at below the National Living Wage prior to April 2021, which suggests that those not able to commute to higher paid jobs in neighbouring areas are more likely to experience low rates of pay, which impacts on their ability to pay for childcare.
12.9% of the children living in the East Riding are living in poverty which then impacts the need for and ability for pay for childcare over and above 15 hours per week funded early education for 2, 3 & 4 year olds. In the sub-areas this proportion varies significantly from 6-8% in the more affluent areas of Willerby & Kirk Ella, Pocklington and South Hunsley to 20-30% in the more deprived areas of Bridlington, Goole and South East Holderness. This therefore suggests that the demand for and ability for pay for childcare will be higher in the areas where there are lower levels of low-income households. Please note that the information regarding low income households per age range was not available at the time of writing this report and therefore we have made the assumptions based on low-income households requiring some form of childcare.
Children’s Centre areas in the least (Green)/most deprived (Red) areas are as follows:
| CSA sub-area | % neighbourhoods in 10% MOST deprived | % neighbourhoods in 10% LEAST deprived | % neighbourhoods in 20% MOST deprived | % neighbourhoods in 20% LEAST deprived |
| East Riding | 6.2% | 20% | 8.1% | 31.4% |
| Beverley 1&2 | 0% | 28.6% | 5.9% | 21.2% |
| Hornsea & Beeford | 0% | 2.4% | 0% | 3% |
| Withernsea & Hedon | 23.1% | 0% | 17.6% | 0% |
| Bridlington 1&2 | 69.2% | 0% | 64.7% | 0% |
| Driffield | 0% | 2.4% | 0% | 3% |
| Pocklington & Market Weighton | 0% | 11.9% | 0% | 13.6% |
| Anlaby, Cottingham & Hessle | 0% | 33.3% | 0% | 33.3% |
| Brough & Howden | 0% | 21.4% | 0% | 21.2% |
| Kingsway & Marshlands | 7.7% | 0% | 11.8% | 4.5% |
Source: 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation, based on neighbourhoods of LSOA’s (lower super output areas).
Interactive map: Tick different layers on and off in the legend. Click on areas on the map to see data in detail.
Population estimates
The population has increased steadily in the East Riding between 2012 and 2019. It is expected to increase to 360,033 by 2043. Looking at the ONS (Office of National Statics) data it shows a decrease the 0-15 age range by 2%. Increasingly, the East Riding population is becoming older due to migration by retired people, particularly to coastal resorts. For the first time since 2015, 2021 saw an increase in births 624,828 births which is an increase of 1.8% compared to 2020 data. In comparison to 2021 report where we projected a fall in birth rates which has been the general trend for the years running up to this.
Source: intel-hub.eastriding.gov.uk/east-riding-profile, ONS (2018)
| 0-15yrs | 0-4 yrs (%) | 5-10yrs (%) | 11-15yrs (%) | |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 55,268 | 15,748 (28.5%) | 21,850 (39.5%) | 17,670 (32.0%) |
| Beverley | 8445 | 2285 (27.1%) | 3368 (39.9%) | 2792 (33.1%) |
| Hornsea & Beeford | 5117 | 1370 (26.8%) | 2055 (40.2%) | 1692 (33.1%) |
| Hedon & Withernsea | 5254 | 1519 (28.9%) | 2026 (38.1%) | 1709 (32.5%) |
| Bridlington | 6731 | 2086 (31.0%) | 2531 (37.6%) | 2114 (31.4%) |
| Pocklington & Market Weighton | 4659 | 1290 (27.7%) | 1890 (40.6%) | 1479 (31.7%) |
| Driffield | 2236 | 646 (28.9%) | 925 (41.4%) | 665 (29.7%) |
| Haltemprice, Anlaby, Cottingham & Hessle | 10298 | 2873 (27.9%) | 4164 (40.4%) | 3261 (31.7%) |
| Brough & Howden | 7398 | 1997 (27.0%) | 2957 (40.0%) | 2444 (33.0%) |
| Kingsway & Marshlands | 5130 | 1682 (32.8%) | 1934 (37.7%) | 1514 (29.5%) |
Source: ONS (2017 mid-year estimate)
The population is spread over a large area. East Riding of Yorkshire Council covers approximately 930 square miles, making it one of the largest unitary authorities in the country, and has 333 settlements, ranging from large towns to small, isolated hamlets and farmsteads. It is a relatively rural local authority (93% by area), with 44% of the population living in villages or hamlets, and 39% of children, aged 0-15 yrs, living in dispersed rural communities.
Access to childcare may therefore be an issue in the more rural areas of East Riding, where a dependency on cars, good public transport or access to very local childcare in the village or hamlet is vital for working parents here.
To see a map of East Riding’s rurality please click here.
Economic Factors affecting demand for childcare
East Riding has a very active labour market with 79.6% of people of working age in employment or actively seeking work in the 12 months to December 2021 which is above national average. The unemployment rate has consistently remained below the regional and national averages over the past three years. This suggests a potentially strong demand for childcare from working families. The majority of working people are full-time, (72.4% of all people of working age), although when looking at males and females separately 87% (which is a reduction from the previous report where we say 98%) of men of working age are full-time and 54% of women. This suggests that demand for childcare may be equally for part-time provision as much as on a full-time basis. These proportions are broadly similar in all the sub-areas, fluctuating by only 1-2%. However, this data relates to all working people and it may be that the proportions for parents may be different.
|
2021/22 Children in Out-of-work/low income households |
||||
| % children aged 0-4 years in out of work/low income benefits households | % children aged 5-10 years in out of work/low income benefits households | % children aged 11-15 years in out of work benefits households | % children aged 16-19 years in out of work benefits households | |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 27.9% | 28.5% | 26% | 17.4% |
| Beverley | 3.4% | 5.5% | 1.8% | 3.6% |
| Hornsea & Beeford | 4.6% | 5.1% | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| Hedon & Withernsea | 4.3% | 0.7% | 6.7% | 6% |
| Bridlington | 18.8% | 13.9% | 12.4% | 12.4% |
| Driffield | 1.5% | 2.2% | 3.7% | 0% |
| Pocklington & Market Weighton | 2.5% | 2.9% | 0% | 0% |
| Haltemprice, Anlaby, Cottingham & Hessle | 4% | 6.1% | 2.5% | 2.6% |
| Brough & Howden | 2.5% | 3.2% | 0% | 1.4% |
| Kingsway & Marshlands | 5.9% | 13.4% | 7.6% | 1.7% |
Source: DWP (2020/21)
Overall 10% of children in East Riding live in households claiming out-of-work benefits, which is a similar level to the national average. This proportion has declined gradually over recent years, both nationally and in East Riding and suggests there is a small gradual increase in parents’ returning to work.
Historically commuting within and out of the East Riding for work has been a strong feature of the labour market due to its rural nature and proximity to Hull and other large urban areas such as York and Leeds, but due to Covid-19 companies have seen the cost saving and shifted to a larger percentage working from home reducing the need to commute.
For more information on the East Riding please visit the East Riding profile.