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Please find a comment below from the Early Years Alliance following the publication of research from charity Working Families, showing a third of working families have had to reduce their working hours due to difficulties accessing childcare and early education. 

The survey, which can be read , also found 31% have requested flexible working to balance responsibilities and a quarter (24%) have had to rely on their partner or family members who have had to reduce their working hours or quit their job. Overall, nearly half (46%) said despite the support available they have found it difficult to maintain boundaries between work and home life. 

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

"It is disappointing, but sadly not at all unsurprising, that a third of families have had to reduce their working hours due to difficulties accessing early education and childcare 

"We know that nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are doing their best to provide enough early years places to meet increasing demand, but the fact is that the sector is facing severe capacity challenges due to an ever-worsening staffing crisis – a situation that will only become more pressurised as the expansion of the early entitlement offer continues to roll out, unless urgent action is taken by government.

"That's why we at the Alliance continue to call on ministers to deliver a comprehensive early years staffing strategy – one that focuses on both recruitment and retention – underpinned by a commitment to adequately fund the early years sector both now and in the future.

"Only then we will be able to build and maintain an early years system where all families can access the places they need, when and where they need them – and crucially, where all children can benefit from the high quality early education and care they deserve.