East Darwen in Blackburn with Darwen Early years summary

Local area: East Darwen

Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen

Summary

East Darwen (E02002629) is part of Blackburn with Darwen local authority (view on map). East Darwen has an approximate population of 6,100 people, of which 8.0% are children 5 years old and under. It is classified as "urban: nearer to a major town or city".

East Darwen neighbours North Darwen, Darwen Town, South Darwen & Whitehall, and Tockholes, Edgworth & Hoddlesden.

Headlines for early years in Blackburn with Darwen

The data below is shown at local area level

  • 65% of children are living in low-income families, ranking it in the 10% most deprived areas (based on income deprivation among children in England)

The data below is only available at local authority level

  • 1.3% of pupils under 1 are classed as 'children looked after' in Blackburn with Darwen compared to 0.6% nationally. This places it in the top 10% of areas with 'children looked after' in this age group
Guidance and data sources

Local area pages are based on the middle-layer super output areas (MSOAs) distributed across the country. MSOAs comprise between 2,000 and 6,000 households and have a resident population of, generally, between 5,000 and 15,000 people. MSOAs fit within local authorities. For each area, descriptive statistics are compared with local authority and national averages. For more information about MSOAs, please visit the Office for National Statistics website.

The data displayed is sourced from:

Deprivation

East Darwen is the 16th least deprived area in Blackburn with Darwen (out of 18) with 65% of children living in low-income families, compared to 51% across Blackburn with Darwen and 38% nationally.

65% of children are living in low-income families, ranking it in the 10% most deprived areas (based on income deprivation among children in England).

Data source

Provider information

Registered childcare providers

East Darwen has 5 registered childcare providers.

Type Number in East Darwen
All childcare providers 5
Childminders 2
Pre-school/day nursery/out-of-school care 3

In East Darwen, there have been 2 full inspections of childcare providers since the introduction of the renewed education inspection framework in November 2025.

Achievement: 1 was graded 'needs attention' (of 1).

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: 2 were graded 'expected standard' (of 2).

Children's welfare and wellbeing: 1 was graded 'expected standard', and 1 was graded 'needs attention' (of 2).

Curriculum and teaching: 1 was graded 'needs attention' (of 1).

Inclusion: 1 was graded 'expected standard', and 1 was graded 'needs attention' (of 2).

Leadership and governance: 2 were graded 'needs attention' (of 2).

The tables below show the outcomes of inspections of childcare providers in East Darwen. The tables are split by provider type, and show the number of inspections that have taken place for each area, and the outcomes of those inspections.

Contents

All childcare

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement
Achievement 1 0 0 0 1 0
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines 2 0 0 2 0 0
Children's welfare and wellbeing 2 0 0 1 1 0
Curriculum and teaching 1 0 0 0 1 0
Inclusion 2 0 0 1 1 0
Leadership and governance 2 0 0 0 2 0

Childminders

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement
Achievement 1 0 0 0 1 0
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines 1 0 0 1 0 0
Children's welfare and wellbeing 1 0 0 1 0 0
Curriculum and teaching 1 0 0 0 1 0
Inclusion 1 0 0 0 1 0
Leadership and governance 1 0 0 0 1 0

Pre-school/day nursery/out-of-school care

Number of inspections Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement
Achievement 0 0 0 0 0 0
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines 1 0 0 1 0 0
Children's welfare and wellbeing 1 0 0 0 1 0
Curriculum and teaching 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inclusion 1 0 0 1 0 0
Leadership and governance 1 0 0 0 1 0

Data source

Summary of Ofsted findings

Summary of Ofsted findings

Inspection of Blackburn with Darwen’s local authority children’s services

These inspections focus on the effectiveness of local authority services and arrangements:

  • to help and protect children, and enable families to stay together and get the help they need
  • the experiences and progress of children in care wherever they live, including those children who return home
  • the arrangements for permanence for children who are looked after, in stable, loving homes, including adoption
  • the experiences and progress of care leavers.
Inspection type Inspection start date Overall effectiveness Impact of leaders Help and protection Children in care Care leavers
ILACS Standard Inspection 3 March 2025 Good Good Good Good Requires improvement to be good

Data source

Area SEND inspection of Blackburn with Darwen Local Area Partnership

The purpose of an area SEND inspection is to:

  • provide an independent, external evaluation of the effectiveness of the local area partnership’s arrangements for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
  • where appropriate, recommend what the local area partnership should do to improve the arrangements.
Inspection outcome

Blackburn with Darwen was last inspected on 8 December 2025.

The local area partnership's arrangements lead to inconsistent experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The local area partnership must work jointly to make improvements.

They were given no areas for priority action.

The next full area SEND inspection will be within approximately 3 years.

Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) ask that the local area partnership updates and publishes its strategic plan based on the recommendations set out in this report.

Data source

Joint targeted area inspection of Blackburn with Darwen local authority

The agencies for these inspections can include the police, children’s social care, probation services, education and relevant health services. Inspectors will also evaluate how local agencies work with education and childcare providers. The focus of these inspections is how effectively the local safeguarding partners work together at the practice and strategic levels.

Theme Inspection start date Link
Front Door 22 May 2023 Link

Data source

Early years population

Contents

Percentage of East Darwen population by age group

Table showing percentage of East Darwen population by age group

% in East Darwen % in Blackburn with Darwen % National
Age 5 and under 8.0% 7.7% 6.4%
Under 1 year 1.4% 1.2% 1.0%
1 year 1.4% 1.2% 1.0%
2 years 1.3% 1.3% 1.1%
3 years 1.3% 1.3% 1.1%
4 years 1.3% 1.4% 1.1%
5 years 1.3% 1.4% 1.1%

Data source

Local authority context

Early years pupil premium

In Blackburn with Darwen, 4.0% of children are receiving the early years pupil premium, compared to 5.1% nationally.

Contents

Percentage of children in receipt of early years pupil premium

Table showing the percentage of children in receipt of early years pupil premium

Number in Blackburn with Darwen % in Blackburn with Darwen % National
Receiving pupil premium 498 4.0% 5.1%

Data source

Children looked after

The percentage of 'children looked after' in Blackburn with Darwen is 1.3% for under 1 year olds and 0.6% for 1 to 4 year olds. The national average is 0.6% for under 1 year olds and 0.4% for 1 to 4 year olds.

1.3% of pupils under 1 are classed as 'children looked after' in Blackburn with Darwen compared to 0.6% nationally. This places it in the top 10% of areas with 'children looked after' in this age group.

Contents

Table showing percentage of children looked after in Blackburn with Darwen

Number in Blackburn with Darwen % in Blackburn with Darwen % National
Children looked after (under 1 year) 26 1.3% 0.6%
Children looked after (aged 1 to 4 years) 50 0.6% 0.4%

Percentage of children looked after in Blackburn with Darwen

Data source

Special educational needs and disabilities in state-funded schools

This data is taken from the school census data for children aged 5 and under with special educational needs and disabilities in state-funded settings.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 5.0% of children aged 5 and under receive SEN support in state-funded settings and 1.5% have an EHC plan, compared to 4.5% and 1.4% nationally.

Contents

Percentage of children with SEND in state-funded settings by age group

Table showing percentage of children with SEND in state-funded settings by age group

Number in Blackburn with Darwen % in Blackburn with Darwen % National
Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (age 5 and under) 620 5.0% 4.5%
Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (under 2 years) 16 0.3% 0.3%
Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (3 years) 96 4.6% 3.7%
Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (4 years) 207 9.4% 9.2%
Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (5 years) 301 14% 12%
Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (age 5 and under) 193 1.5% 1.4%
Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (under 2 years) 0 0% 0%
Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (3 years) 0 0% 0.3%
Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (4 years) 95 4.3% 3.1%
Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (5 years) 98 4.4% 4.8%

Data source

Education, health and care plans

This data is taken from the local authority level data for children aged 5 and under issued with an education, health and care (EHC) plan in Blackburn with Darwen.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 1.6% of children aged 5 and under have an EHC plan, compared to 1.6% nationally.

Contents

Percentage of children with an EHCP in Blackburn with Darwen by age group

Table showing percentage of children with an EHCP in Blackburn with Darwen by age group

Number in Blackburn with Darwen % in Blackburn with Darwen % National
Total: Children with an EHCP (age 5 and under) 197 1.6% 1.6%
Total: Children with an EHCP (under 2 years) 0 0% 0%
Total: Children with an EHCP (3 years) 0 0% 0.8%
Total: Children with an EHCP (4 years) 93 4.2% 3.4%
Total: Children with an EHCP (5 years) 104 4.7% 5.0%

Data source

Early years funded takeup

In Blackburn with Darwen, take-up of funded early years places is 62% for 2-year-olds, 90% for 3-year-olds, and 95% for 4-year-olds, compared to 72%, 88%, and 93% nationally.

Contents

Percentage of eligible children taking up funded early years places

Table showing percentage of eligible children taking up funded early years places

Funded early years places for 2-year-olds Number of eligible 2-year-olds % of population aged 2 % take-up of funded places
Blackburn with Darwen 513 25% 62%
National 119,598 19% 72%
Funded early years places for 3-year-olds Number of eligible 3-year-olds % of population aged 3 % take-up of funded places
Blackburn with Darwen All 3-year olds are eligible 90%
National 88%
Funded early years places for 4-year-olds Number of eligible 4-year-olds % of population aged 4 % take-up of funded places
Blackburn with Darwen All 4-year olds are eligible 95%
National 93%
The 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old funded places tables look different because they measure different things; funded places for 2-year-olds are only for children considered to be disadvantaged, while for 3- and 4-year-olds everyone is entitled to a funded place.

Data source

Children's overweight and obesity

In Blackburn with Darwen, 21% of reception-age children are overweight or obese, compared to 24% nationally.

Contents

Percentage of reception-age children overweight or obese

Table showing percentage of reception-age children overweight or obese

Number in Blackburn with Darwen % in Blackburn with Darwen % National
Children's overweight and obesity (reception-age children) 405 21% 24%

Data source

Oral health

In Blackburn with Darwen, 35% of children aged 5 have visible tooth decay (oral health issues) compared to 22% nationally.

Contents

Percentage of 5-year-olds with visible tooth decay

Table showing percentage of 5-year-olds with visible tooth decay

Number examined in Blackburn with Darwen % examined in Blackburn with Darwen % in Blackburn with Darwen % National
Oral health (visible tooth decay in 5-year-olds) 1,222 57% 35% 22%

Data source