Census dates
Find out when you'll need to submit data to us.
Every local authority is required to provide an individual child level early years census return for each term in the 2026 to 2027 financial year.
Every funded early years setting in England must provide the necessary information to their local authority to enable them to complete this return.
Local authorities should work closely with early years providers to make sure that:
- all pupils who are in scope for the early years census are included in the return
- data supplied from early years providers is correct
Local authorities may want to notify their providers of their own submission deadlines.
Census dates and deadlines from Summer 2026
From Summer 2026, the EY census will be collected termly over the financial year. The census dates are as follows:
Summer 2026 EY census
- census date - Thursday 21 May 2026. The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.
- loading deadline – Friday 19 June 2026
- submission deadline - Friday 17 July 2026
Autumn 2026 EY census
- census date - Thursday 1 October 2026. The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.
- loading deadline - Friday 6 November 2026
- submission deadline - Friday 4 December 2026
Spring 2027 EY census
- census date - Thursday 21 January 2027. The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.
- loading deadline - Friday 5 March 2027
- submission deadline - Friday 2 April 2027