Childcare and early years

This event will explore the evidence and policy landscape around early years family support. It will also mark the launch of a new report from IFS.

Associate Director Christine Farquharson presented on the importance on evaluation at the Children & Young People Now's conference.

Christine Farquharson's presentation at the Nursery World Business Summit 2025, at America Square Conference Centre, London.

This chart compares the trends in public spending per student on various stages of education over time in England. 

Total spending on the free entitlement doubled during the 2000s, and then more than doubled again during the 2010s. 

While spending per place and total spending have doubled since 2009, spending per hour is around 23% higher by 2023–24. 

Recent years have seen a wedge open up between funding rates and provider costs.

Support targeted at workers further up the income distribution has grown from a tenth of the overall pot to a third.

The launch of 2024/25 IFS Annual Report on Education Spending in England, funded by the Nuffield Foundation

This annual report contains our latest estimates of spending per pupil and resource challenges across different stages of education in England.

2025/26 childcare funding rates offer real-terms protection for the early years budget, with a boost to the funding top-up for disadvantaged children

This report studies the impact of Sure Start, which supported families of under-5s, on children’s behaviour, youth offending and social care contacts.

We're exploring why there's been an increase in child poverty since 2010 and options the government has to reduce this.