Data last verified: 13 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK child day-care businesses rose 45.2% between 2010 and 2026, from 9,805 to 14,235, and London's almost doubled, from 1,210 to 2,355.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/nurseries/uk-nursery-industry, 2026-11-13. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 13, 2026
Read a short summary
General summary
The UK had 14,235 child day-care businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 45.2% up on 2010 (9,805) and 2.2% up on 2021 (13,925). 59.7% employ fewer than ten people. Wales has the most per head, 30.7 per 100,000 residents. North East has the fewest, 14.1.
Bullet points
- 14,235 UK child day-care businesses in March 2026 (ONS).
- Compared with 2010: 45.2% up on 2010 (9,805).
- Compared with 2021: 2.2% up on 2021 (13,925).
- 59.7% employ fewer than ten people.
- Most per head: Wales, 30.7 per 100,000 residents. Fewest: North East, 14.1.
Basic explainer
A child day-care business looks after children during the day. Nurseries and pre-schools are the best known kind. This page counts how many of these businesses there are in the UK, using official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It also gives the number of childcare providers registered with Ofsted, the inspector for England. The two counts measure different things, so they do not match.
These summaries were written with AI from this page only. The full page below is the record.
Short answer: the UK had 14,235 child day-care businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 45.2% up on 2010 (9,805) and 2.2% up on 2021 (13,925). 59.7% employ fewer than ten people. Wales has the most per head, 30.7 per 100,000 residents; North East has the fewest, 14.1.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations. The official category is child day-care, which covers day nurseries, pre-schools and other childcare businesses. A business that runs several nurseries is counted once. Childminders who are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the count.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Child day-care businesses (UK, SIC 88910) | 14,235 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +45.2% (from 9,805) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +2.2% (from 13,925) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 8,495 (59.7%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 35 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | Wales, 30.7 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | North East, 14.1 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Childcare providers registered with Ofsted (England) | 59,700, down 720 (1%) on the year | Ofsted, as at 31 March 2026, published 9 July 2026 |
| Of which childcare on non-domestic premises (nurseries, pre-schools, holiday clubs and other group settings) | 27,900, up 410 (1%) | Same Ofsted release |
| Of which childminders | 24,700, down 630 (2%) | Same Ofsted release |
| Places on the Early Years Register (England) | 1.31 million, up 26,500 (2%) | Same Ofsted release |
| Providers that joined and left in the year to 31 March 2026 | 6,060 joined, 6,780 left | Same Ofsted release |
The ONS and Ofsted figures count different things. The ONS counts businesses across the UK. Ofsted counts registered providers in England, including childminders. Do not add them together or divide one by the other.
The count year by year
| Year | Businesses (UK) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9,805 |
| 2011 | 10,240 |
| 2012 | 10,870 |
| 2013 | 10,975 |
| 2014 | 11,605 |
| 2015 | 13,380 |
| 2016 | 13,610 |
| 2017 | 13,605 |
| 2018 | 13,850 |
| 2019 | 13,865 |
| 2020 | 13,890 |
| 2021 | 13,925 |
| 2022 | 13,985 |
| 2023 | 13,735 |
| 2024 | 13,510 |
| 2025 | 13,520 |
| 2026 | 14,235 |
The highest count in this period was 14,235 in 2026. The lowest was 9,805 in 2010. Each count is a snapshot taken in March of that year.
How big are childcare businesses?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 8,495 | 59.7% |
| 10 to 49 | 5,255 | 36.9% |
| 50 to 249 | 450 | 3.2% |
| 250 or more | 35 | 0.2% |
| Total | 14,235 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 88910 “Child day-care activities”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where childcare businesses are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 520 | 1,035 | 975 | 30.7 | +87.5% | -5.8% |
| London | 1,210 | 2,050 | 2,355 | 25.8 | +94.6% | +14.9% |
| Northern Ireland | 285 | 475 | 455 | 23.6 | +59.6% | -4.2% |
| North West | 1,125 | 1,545 | 1,580 | 20.3 | +40.4% | +2.3% |
| East Midlands | 770 | 990 | 1,020 | 20.1 | +32.5% | +3.0% |
| East of England | 915 | 1,230 | 1,315 | 19.9 | +43.7% | +6.9% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 785 | 1,150 | 1,100 | 19.4 | +40.1% | -4.3% |
| South West | 1,005 | 1,185 | 1,145 | 19.4 | +13.9% | -3.4% |
| South East | 1,245 | 1,795 | 1,830 | 18.9 | +47.0% | +1.9% |
| West Midlands | 835 | 1,120 | 1,135 | 18.3 | +35.9% | +1.3% |
| Scotland | 795 | 955 | 930 | 16.8 | +17.0% | -2.6% |
| North East | 315 | 390 | 390 | 14.1 | +23.8% | 0.0% |
| United Kingdom | 9,805 | 13,925 | 14,235 | 20.5 | +45.2% | +2.2% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- Wales has about 2.2 times as many per head as North East (30.7 against 14.1 per 100,000 residents).
- Fastest growth since 2010: London (+94.6%). Slowest: South West (+13.9%).
- 6 of the 12 regions and nations have more businesses than in 2021. 5 have fewer and 1 has the same count.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
In England, childcare providers register with Ofsted. A provider can be on the Early Years Register, the Childcare Register, or both. On 31 March 2026, 46,600 providers (78%) were on the Early Years Register.
Ofsted’s figures cover England only. Source: Ofsted, Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 March 2026, published 9 July 2026.
To check a nursery yourself, see Whito’s guide: how to check a nursery with Ofsted.
What Whito’s research adds
Whito’s other nursery pages: AI-recommended nurseries vs the Ofsted register: the check Whito is running, Nursery fees UK: how the bill works and what the funded hours actually cover, How to check a nursery on the Ofsted register, and actually read the report. This page adds the official business counts, by size, by region and by year.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the industry. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 88910, all legal statuses, March snapshots for 2010 to 2026, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 13 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Compare with other industries: see how nurseries compare with eleven other UK industries by number of businesses, growth since 2010 and business size, in one table: UK industries compared 2026.
Common questions
How many nursery and childcare businesses are there in the UK?
14,235 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 88910). A business that runs several nurseries is counted once.
Is the number of nursery and childcare businesses growing?
It rose 2.2% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 45.2% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most nursery and childcare businesses?
By number, London (2,355). Per head, Wales, with 30.7 per 100,000 residents.
Are most nursery and childcare businesses small?
Yes. 8,495 of 14,235 (59.7%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 13 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- Ofsted, Main findings: childcare providers and inspections as at 31 March 2026 (published 9 July 2026): GOV.UK
