Numbers of PVI nurseries increase for the second year running
According to the latest Ofsted statistics, there are 260 more private, voluntary and independent nurseries and pre-schools (childcare on non domestic premises) compared with last year.
Ofsted’s statistical release Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 August 2025 also shows that 98% of nurseries were judged as “good” or “outstanding” at their last inspection.
Although numbers of childcare provider dropped by 2% by 1,270 since last year, this is down to a long-term trend of a decline in childminders. Nurseries increased to 27,500 and delivered 1.14 million places.
Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said: “The latest Ofsted statistics prove that private, voluntary and independent (PVI) nurseries are delivering more childcare places than ever, with 98% judged as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ in their last inspection. This is an amazing achievement considering all the financial and staffing pressures that our nurseries are under whilst delivering high quality, flexible, early education and care to meet the needs of children and families.
“This means parents can feel reassured that nursery is truly the place where the best start happens. With the new inspection framework starting earlier this month, it will be important to see how future gradings are more reflective of the real experience of children in nurseries and other early years settings across the country.”
The numbers of nurseries judged as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ over the last year dropped to 90% and 78% of those who had previously been judged as “requires improvement” and “inadequate” received the top two judgement gradings.
Ofsted releases data about school nurseries separately but the latest published statistics are for December 2024.
Read the full report here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-providers-and-inspections-as-at-31-august-2025/main-findings-childcare-providers-and-inspections-as-at-31-august-2025
- England
- childcare
- Department for Education
- early education
- early years
- Inspections
- nurseries
- Ofsted
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