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The Early Years Alliance has commented on a new report from IPPR and Save the Children which calls for a 'universal childcare guarantee' for children up to 11, arguing it would boost economy by an extra £13 billion a year.

The report states that "delivering a high quality childcare guarantee will not be possible without additional investment in a sustainable funding settlement for the early years sector".

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said:

"Save the Children and IPPR are absolutely right to argue for greater investment into the early years sector as a way of boosting economic growth.

"At a time when the government is focusing on encouraging 'economically-inactive' adults back into the workforce, it is truly bizarre that ministers continue to completely ignore the need for affordable, accessible early years provision to enable the parents of young children – and primarily, mothers – to do just that.

"What's more, as the report rightly highlights, investing in the early years is about more than just providing childcare. It is investing in the kind of quality early education that will helps shape children's learning, development and life chances for years to come which itself has been shown to have huge wider economic benefits down the line.

"We believe that all children, without exception, should have access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early education, but the fact is that this is only possible with adequate funding. It's clear that urgent action is needed to fix our broken early years system – the government has dragged its feet on this issue for long enough."