Local area: Stotfold
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire
Stotfold in Central Bedfordshire Early years summary
Summary
Stotfold (E02003612) is part of Central Bedfordshire local authority (view on map). Stotfold has an approximate population of 13,000 people, of which 8.0% are children 5 years old and under. It is classified as "urban: nearer to a major town or city".
Stotfold neighbours Potton, Biggleswade East, Arlesey & Henlow, Letchworth Grange, Letchworth Wilbury, and Ashwell, Weston & Barley.
Headlines for early years in Central Bedfordshire
The data below is only available at local authority level
- 0.3% of pupils under 1 are classed as 'children looked after' in Central Bedfordshire compared to 0.6% nationally. This places it in the bottom 10% of areas with 'children looked after' in this age group
- 0.2% of pupils aged 1 to 4 are classed as 'children looked after' in Central Bedfordshire compared to 0.4% nationally. This places it in the bottom 10% of areas with 'children looked after' in this age group
- The oral health measure indicated a lower than national proportion of visible tooth decay in 5-year-olds (15% compared to 22%), placing it in the bottom 10% of all areas in England. However only 8.6% of children were examined
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
Stotfold is the 11th least deprived area in Central Bedfordshire (out of 33) with 21% of children living in low-income families, compared to 25% across Central Bedfordshire and 38% nationally.
Provider information
Registered childcare providers
Stotfold has 20 registered childcare providers.
| Type | Number in Stotfold |
|---|---|
| All childcare providers | 20 |
| Childminders | 13 |
| Pre-school/day nursery/out-of-school care | 7 |
In Stotfold, 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 'expected standard' (of 1).
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: 1 was graded 'expected standard', and 1 was graded 'needs attention' (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 'expected standard' (of 1).
Inclusion: 1 was graded 'expected standard', and 1 was graded 'needs attention' (of 2).
Leadership and governance: 1 was graded 'expected standard', and 1 was graded 'needs attention' (of 2).
The tables below show the outcomes of inspections of childcare providers in Stotfold. 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Children's welfare and wellbeing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Curriculum and teaching | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Inclusion | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Leadership and governance | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Childminders
| Number of inspections | Exceptional | Strong standard | Expected standard | Needs attention | Urgent improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achievement | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Inclusion | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Leadership and governance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 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 | 0 | 1 | 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 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Leadership and governance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Summary of Ofsted findings
Summary of Ofsted findings
Inspection of Central Bedfordshire’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 Short Inspection | 10 March 2025 | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Area SEND inspection of Central Bedfordshire 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 |
|---|
|
Central Bedfordshire local area partnership has not yet been inspected under the current area SEND framework. |
Joint targeted area inspection of Central Bedfordshire 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 |
|---|---|---|
| There have been no JTAI inspections for this local authority. | ||
Early years population
Contents
Percentage of Stotfold population by age group
Table showing percentage of Stotfold population by age group
| % in Stotfold | % in Central Bedfordshire | % National | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 5 and under | 8.0% | 7.4% | 6.4% |
| Under 1 year | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.0% |
| 1 year | 1.0% | 1.2% | 1.0% |
| 2 years | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| 3 years | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| 4 years | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| 5 years | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
Local authority context
Early years pupil premium
In Central Bedfordshire, 4.9% of children are receiving the early years pupil premium, compared to 5.1% nationally.
Children looked after
The percentage of 'children looked after' in Central Bedfordshire is 0.3% for under 1 year olds and 0.2% 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.
0.3% of pupils under 1 are classed as 'children looked after' in Central Bedfordshire compared to 0.6% nationally. This places it in the bottom 10% of areas with 'children looked after' in this age group.
In addition,
0.2% of pupils aged 1 to 4 are classed as 'children looked after' in Central Bedfordshire compared to 0.4% nationally. This places it in the bottom 10% of areas with 'children looked after' in this age group.
Contents
Table showing percentage of children looked after in Central Bedfordshire
| Number in Central Bedfordshire | % in Central Bedfordshire | % National | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children looked after (under 1 year) | 10 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Children looked after (aged 1 to 4 years) | 28 | 0.2% | 0.4% |
Percentage of children looked after in Central Bedfordshire
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 Central Bedfordshire, 3.6% of children aged 5 and under receive SEN support in state-funded settings and 1.4% 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 Central Bedfordshire | % in Central Bedfordshire | % National | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (age 5 and under) | 838 | 3.6% | 4.5% |
| Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (under 2 years) | 27 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (3 years) | 132 | 3.4% | 3.7% |
| Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (4 years) | 274 | 6.6% | 9.2% |
| Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (5 years) | 405 | 10% | 12% |
| Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (age 5 and under) | 325 | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (under 2 years) | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (3 years) | 10 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (4 years) | 134 | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| Total: EHCPs in state-funded settings (5 years) | 181 | 4.4% | 4.8% |
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 Central Bedfordshire.
In Central Bedfordshire, 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 Central Bedfordshire by age group
Table showing percentage of children with an EHCP in Central Bedfordshire by age group
| Number in Central Bedfordshire | % in Central Bedfordshire | % National | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total: Children with an EHCP (age 5 and under) | 365 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Total: Children with an EHCP (under 2 years) | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| Total: Children with an EHCP (3 years) | 21 | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Total: Children with an EHCP (4 years) | 144 | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Total: Children with an EHCP (5 years) | 200 | 4.8% | 5.0% |
Early years funded takeup
In Central Bedfordshire, take-up of funded early years places is 70% for 2-year-olds, 87% for 3-year-olds, and 93% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bedfordshire | 585 | 15% | 70% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bedfordshire | All 3-year olds are eligible | 87% | |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bedfordshire | All 4-year olds are eligible | 93% | |
| 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.
Children's overweight and obesity
In Central Bedfordshire, 20% 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 Central Bedfordshire | % in Central Bedfordshire | % National | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's overweight and obesity (reception-age children) | 700 | 20% | 24% |
Oral health
In Central Bedfordshire, 15% of children aged 5 have visible tooth decay (oral health issues) compared to 22% nationally.
The oral health measure indicated a lower than national proportion of visible tooth decay in 5-year-olds (15% compared to 22%), placing it in the bottom 10% of all areas in England. However only 8.6% of children were examined.
Contents
Percentage of 5-year-olds with visible tooth decay
Table showing percentage of 5-year-olds with visible tooth decay
| Number examined in Central Bedfordshire | % examined in Central Bedfordshire | % in Central Bedfordshire | % National | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral health (visible tooth decay in 5-year-olds) | 327 | 8.6% | 15% | 22% |