Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) mergers and (b) acquisitions have there been in the early years sector in each month since March 2020; and how many childcare providers on the early years register have those mergers and acquisitions involved.

The Department for Education does not hold the information requested.

Ofsted holds the Early Years Register and publishes data on joiners and leavers to that register on a monthly basis. Ofsted does not collect or publish information on the reasons given by early years providers for leaving the Early Years Register. The data on joiners and leavers is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joiners-and-leavers-in-the-childcare-sector.

According to Ofsted, providers can leave the Early Years register for a range of reasons. In the case of some mergers or acquisitions, nurseries may have to re-register with Ofsted.

The department is in regular contact with local authorities and the early years sector about the supply and demand of childcare in local areas. We will continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the early years sector.