However, the survey also found that the number of early years and childcare practitioners gaining qualifications continues to rise.
The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey 2009, carried out by TNS-BMRB, presents findings about provision - including the number of places and providers - as well as pay and qualifications throughout the early years and childcare workforce.
The New Labour Government had set a target for every full daycare setting to be led by a graduate with EYPS and for there to be two EYPs for each setting in deprived areas by 2015.
The report said, 'Overall, 22 per cent of full daycare providers had at least one graduate with EYPS, and 4 per cent had at least two. There was no difference between the 30 per cent most deprived areas and other areas.
These figures were similar to those observed in the 2008 survey, when 18 per cent had at least one graduate and 4 per cent had at least two. This would suggest there is some way to go for all providers to meet these targets.'
However, the survey also found that in non-maintained settings where there was no EYP, about half (49 per cent) had at least one member of staff working towards EYPS. Providers in the 30 per cent most deprived areas were also more likely to have at least two people working towards EYPS.
The number of practitioners with a Level 3 qualification has been rising slowly in recent years, the report said.
More than two-thirds of staff in group settings - full daycare, sessional providers, children's centres and out-of-school and holiday clubs - were qualified to level 3 or above. Around half of all registered childminders had a level 3 qualification.
The survey found that the shift from sessional to full daycare is continuing. There has also been a fall in the number of childminders. Between 2008 and 2009, the number of children attending all childcare and early years provision declined, except for full daycare settings, including children's centres that provide full daycare on-site.
After-school childcare was the worst hit, with a drop of 10 per cent in providers, the first time this type of provision had fallen in number since 2003.
Further information
Download the Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey 2009 at http://publications.education.gov.uk/
