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.
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 for the 2026 to 2027 financial year
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
Census dates and deadlines for the 2027 to 2028 financial year
Summer 2027 EY census
- census date - Thursday 20 May 2027. The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.
- loading deadline - Friday 18 June 2027
- submission deadline - Friday 16 July 2027
Autumn 2027 EY census
- census date - Thursday 7 October 2027. The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.
- loading deadline - Friday 12 November 2027
- submission deadline - Friday 10 December 2027
Spring 2028 EY census
- census date - Thursday 20 January 2028. The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.
- loading deadline - Friday 3 March 2028
- submission deadline - Friday 31 March 2027