Introduction
Securing sufficient childcare allows parents to work when childcare places are available, accessible and affordable and are delivered flexibly in a range of high-quality settings.
Local authorities are required by legislation to secure sufficient childcare for children aged 0 to 14 (or up to 18 for disabled children), so far as is reasonably practicable, for:
- working parents
- parents who are studying or training for employment
To carry out this duty in Lincolnshire, the following is considered:
- the local childcare market, including the supply and demand that currently exists
- the local labour market, including the sufficiency of the local childcare workforce
- the quality and capacity of childcare providers and childminders registered with a childminder agency, including their funding, staff, premises
- where existing providers might expand their provision and new providers entering the local childcare market
- the sustainability of the childcare market
- ensure parents understand the childcare available to them and encourage them to access the government funding available to support the cost of childcare
In this report, we will:
- clarify how we are securing sufficient childcare to meet the needs of children and families in Lincolnshire, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and access to government funding, for children aged 9 months to 5 years
- demonstrate the places that we have developed in the last academic year to support the increased demand generated by the childcare reforms
- provide information about the current and projected supply and demand of childcare for children, and the affordability, accessibility, and quality of provision
- identify how gaps in childcare provision will be addressed
- describe how the wraparound programme has created places across the county to meet the childcare needs of parents of school-aged children
Lincolnshire surveys
We completed our childcare sufficiency assessment (CSA) during the spring term of 2025. The primary objective of the CSA is to inform strategic planning and ensure compliance with the statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare provision across the county.
Data collection and methodology
The CSA is underpinned by comprehensive data gathered from two key sources:
- survey of registered childcare providers and schools
- data collection period: 3 March to 16 March 2025
- reference week: census week commencing 24 February 2025
- total providers surveyed: 621
- response rate: 99%
- survey of Lincolnshire parents
- data collection period: 17 February to 18 March 2025
- promotion channels:
- social media
- childcare providers
- children’s centres
- websites
- posters
- total respondents: 1,090
- respondents using or intending to use childcare in Lincolnshire: 1,049
The parental survey engagement report will be available on our website once published. Engagement report - parents view of childcare in Lincolnshire
Analytical framework
The CSA integrates survey findings with demographic data, including population statistics, housing developments, and birth rates. This multi-source analysis enables a detailed assessment of childcare needs across:
- districts
- children’s centre reach areas
- electoral wards
This year, we have further strengthened our approach by applying a redistribution factor within our sufficiency formulas. This factor accounts for the movement of families across the county when accessing childcare, ensuring that provision is not only increased but also strategically aligned with actual patterns of demand.
By recognising that families often travel beyond their immediate locality for work and childcare, this approach enables a more equitable and responsive allocation of resources, helping to ensure that childcare places are available where they are most needed.
