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Please find below a comment from the Early Years Alliance following the publication of the Department for Education's 2023 Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents.

The survey, which can be accessed , found that over a third (37%) of families with pre-school aged children said there were not enough places. In addition, 46% have called for childcare and early education to be made more affordable, with 34% of parents with children aged under 4 finding it difficult or very difficult to meet their childcare costs, the highest proportion since 2014.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“Today’s survey results clearly shows the significant cost and availability challenges families continue to face when it comes to early years provision.

"With 46% of families of pre-school aged children calling for early education and childcare to be made more affordable, a third finding costs difficult to meet, and more than a third stating that there are not enough places, it's clear, that urgent action needs to be taken. We know that providers are doing their best not just to meet demand but to ensure that places are also affordable and high quality, but sustained underfunding and longstanding staffing challenges are making this close to impossible for countless settings.

"Given that the sector is in the midst of the early entitlement expansion, it is absolutely vital that the government engages with the sector to ensure that every family can benefit from access to early education and year. Without this, families will continue to find it difficult to find and afford early years provision."