Key findings
During 2024 to 2025, we have implemented the final phase of the national childcare reforms. Lincolnshire has experienced significant growth in the childcare sector, ensuring families across the county have access to the places they need.
We continue to:
- balance supply and demand: Lincolnshire continues to maintain a strong balance between the availability of childcare places and the needs of all families
- support working families: with the expansion of funded childcare, offering 30 hours for children from 9 months to school age, the county is actively preparing to meet increased demand from September 2025
- ensure quality and accessibility: we are working closely with providers to ensure childcare remains high-quality, accessible, and affordable for all families
The latest parental survey shows that 82% of parents now have access to the childcare they need, an encouraging 18% increase compared to the 2024 survey. This reflects the continued progress in expanding and improving childcare provision across Lincolnshire.
Early years and childcare across Lincolnshire has seen significant growth in the last year to ensure it meets the parental demand following the expansion of funded childcare. The bullet poitns below show the places by age range that have been opened in the last year with the support of government grant funding.
Number of additional places available:
- under 2s: 168
- 2-year-olds: 151
- 3 and 4-year-olds: 194
We continue to work closely with the early years sector to develop places in areas of the county where a clear need has been identified. This targeted approach ensures that available funding is directed where it is most needed, supporting families and improving access to early education.
In addition, Lincolnshire has successfully secured seven bids through the Department for Education’s school-based nursery capital programme. This achievement will result in the creation of 117 new childcare places during the 2025 to 2026 academic year, further strengthening the county’s early years infrastructure.
Availability of out of school childcare has been assessed through the wraparound programme. This additional Government initiative continues to meet the needs of families across the county for school-aged children. The Programme has significantly expanded access to before and after-school childcare across the county, supporting working families and enhancing local childcare infrastructure. Further details about this programme are included in annex A.
