The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a market study into early years education and childcare services in England to assess how the sector works for families, providers and the wider economy. The review covers children from birth to school entry, including nurseries, childminders and school‑based settings. It follows a request from the Education Secretary in May 2026 and will inform the government’s own childcare review. The study will examine access to high‑quality places, affordability and funding, information and choice, the role of local authorities, and the impact of different provider types. With over 53,000 providers offering 1.6 million places and an annual economic contribution of about £14 billion, the CMA will consider how government policy and public bodies shape outcomes. Provisional findings are expected in early 2027, and the CMA is inviting views from families and providers.
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Summary adapted from content licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
For details, see https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/.
Original source: https://www.gov.uk/
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