Department for Education (DfE) Early Years Census – Summer 2026

All providers delivering free early education in the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sector, including childminders, must submit details of all children accessing funded provision during census week via the Waltham Forest  Early Years Provider Portal. This enables the Local Authority to complete its statutory return to the Department for Education (DfE). 

From Summer 2026, the DfE’s Early Years Census will be collected termly across the financial year. 

Key dates

• Census date: Thursday 21 May 2026. The census will collect data on all children taking up free provision during census week.
• Submission deadline:  To be confirmed by the Waltham Forest Early Years Team.

Further details about the census, including guidance to support completion, will be shared with providers nearer the time by the Early Years Team. 

Submission requirements 

• Child level data for funded children aged 9 months to 4 years. 

More information, including DOB ranges for ages.

• Establishment level information. Note staff information is not required for the summer 2026 Early Years Census.
• Aggregate child statistics: Separate funded and unfunded aggregate counts for under 1s, 1, 2, 3 and 4-year-old children. For the summer 2026 Early Years Census, age should be recorded as at 31 March 2026. 

More information 

All child-level and establishment-level data must be submitted via the Waltham Forest Early Years Provider Portal, as directed by the Early Years Team. 

Changes

• Changes for summer 2026 (see section “Changes for summer 2026”)

Further details about the census, including guidance to support completion, will be communicated to providers nearer the time. 

Contacts  

Early Years Team:  FEEEprovision@walthamforest.gov.uk 

For data collection and validation questions about pupil/child-level, establishment-level, and child aggregate statistics. 

Business Intelligence Team: edu.performance@walthamforest.gov.uk  

For questions about the Local Authority statutory return to the DfE. 

User Guides 

• Two year old eligibility checks user guide
• Early Years provider portal user guide
• 2025-26 Weeks calculator in-term joiners and leavers
• 2026-27 Weeks calculator in-term joiners and leavers
• Instructions on how to add under 2 and 2 YO to Autumn 2025 claims 

Video Resources

The following videos demonstrate how you can use the Provider Portal. 

The following videos demonstrate how you can add a record to Provider Portal and amending start and end dates within terms. 

The following videos demonstrate how you can check 30 hour eligibility codes and checking a child's date of birth not eligible for funding. 

The next two videos demonstrates how you can delete a child's record on provider portal and grace period end for 30 hour eligibility. 

The next two videos shows how you can log onto the system and check 2 year olds assessments.

The next two videos demonstrates how to can submit headcounts and update your provider record on the childcare directory.