Commenting on the Department for Education’s (DfE) latest release of the figures of childcare eligibility codes issued and validated, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance said:

“Despite the government saying that it has exceeded its initial take-up target for the funded entitlements, the fact that, as it stands, one in five families of 9- to 12-month-olds have not had their eligibility codes validated is clearly a real cause for concern .

“Given the ongoing pressures on early years settings – and in particular, the severe recruitment and retention crisis – it wouldn’t be at all surprising if this was due at least in part to a lack of capacity in the sector, something that simply cannot improve without urgent government action.

“What’s more, it’s important to remember while these figures show whether or not families have been able to access an early place, what they do not show is whether those places actually meet those families’ needs: namely, whether parents have been able to access all the sessions they want, on the days they want, at the setting of their choice.

“With the Budget only two months away, we’re clear that the government simply must invest what is needed into the early years sector to ensure that all families can access quality, affordable care and early education. Anything less, and going forward we are likely to see more and more families unable to access the places that they’ve been promised.”