Childcare Sufficiency Assessments

Please provide the following information for the most recent three years for which data is available (please specify the reporting period used): 

1) The number and/or percentage of children recorded as receiving SEND support in funded early education or registered early years childcare settings and the relevant statistical releases where this information is published. 

2) The number of children accessing the Disability Access Fund each year 

3) The number of children registered in early years childcare settings with an EHCP 

4) Any centrally held summary analysis of local authority Childcare Sufficiency Assessments that refers specifically to provision for children with SEND or disabilities 

5) Any relevant figures or breakdowns of waiting lists or unmet demand specifically for SEND childcare places 

Please provide the requested data in Excel/CSV format to allow for easy analysis where possible.

­For the purpose of this request, 'early years' refers to children aged 0-5 years who have not yet entered compulsory primary education. Where exact terminology differs, please interpret this request in line with the closest equivalent category used by the department.

If any of the requested information is not held, please confirm this and provide any related data that is available.
 

1) 2025-26 1,150

2024-25 1,251

2023-24 1,353

2) 2025-26 284

2024-25 256

2023-24 300

3) 2025- 26 209

2024-25 264

2023-24 297

4) 2025-26

283 (46%) providers had children attending with SEND. Building constraints to enable accessibility and staff skills and training gaps were cited as the main barriers to families accessing provision. All Early Years places are considered inclusive in Lincolnshire. Provider waiting lists for SEND specific places not captured. The parent survey showed 78.5% of parents with EY children with SEND said their childcare met their child's needs. The parent survey showed that 100% of parents of children with SEND were able to access the childcare they needed.

2024-25

289 (49%) providers had children attending with SEND. Recruitment of suitable staff to support children’s needs and accessibility were cited as the main barriers to families accessing provision. All Early Years places are considered inclusive in Lincolnshire. Provider waiting lists for SEND specific places not captured. The parent survey showed 73.8% of parents with EY children with SEND said their childcare met their child's needs. The parent survey showed that 67.90% of parents of children with SEND were able to access the childcare they needed.

2023-24

450 (57.11%) providers stated delivering provision for children with SEND. Accessibility to buildings being the main reason providers said that made it difficult to make SEND provision available. All Early Years places are considered inclusive in Lincolnshire. Provider waiting lists for SEND specific places not captured. The parent survey showed 60.2% of parents with EY children with SEND said their childcare met their child's needs. The parent survey showed that 66.01% of parents of children with SEND were able to access the childcare they needed.