DfE statistics show continued difficulties with early years places and costs
by Jess Gibson
Parents of children under four cite ongoing concerns with the affordability and availability of early years places in a survey from the Department for Education (DfE).
Released today, the publication – Childcare and early years survey of parents 2023 – provides information on a survey of parents with children from birth to 14. It covers parents’ use of childcare and early years provision, and their views and experiences
The report found that over a third (37%) of families with pre-school-aged children said there weren’t enough places.
In addition, 46% have called for childcare and early education to be made more affordable, with 34% of parents with children under four finding it difficult or very difficult to meet their childcare costs – the highest proportion since 2014.
Further findings from the publication also show that, among families with children from birth to four years:
· 57% living in the most deprived areas received formal childcare, compared to 74% in the least deprived areas.
· 18% were more likely to say that they hadn’t used childcare because they couldn’t afford it.
· 6% were more likely to say that they had not used childcare because they couldn’t find a childcare place as local providers were full.
The full set of statistics and findings can be found .
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “Today’s survey results clearly show 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 to meet demand while ensuring 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."