by Jess Gibson
Disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are more likely to struggle to access early years provision in England than their peers, according to Coram Family and Childcare’s annual Childcare Survey.
Coram’s report is based on its 24th annual Childcare Survey, which used survey data from local authorities between November 2024 and February 2025.
The survey and report follow the rollout of the first two phases of the early entitlement expansion of funded hours for eligible working families in England. It found that, with the new ‘funded’ hours, a part-time early years place for a child under two now costs an average of £70.51 in England – a 56% decrease since 2024.
However, the report also identified that families not eligible for the new entitlements – such as those not in work or not earning enough to be eligible – face higher costs to provide the same level of early education, paying up to £105 more per week for a part-time early years place for a child under two and £100 more per week for a two-year-old. Furthermore, for parents of three- and four-year-olds in full-time early years provision, the average weekly cost is £126.94 in England, a 4.7% increase since 2024.
While around eight in 10 local authorities in England who responded to the survey saying they have enough early years provision for at least 75% of children eligible for all funded entitlements, the report also founds gaps in availability for children with SEND: only 29% of local authorities in England that responded to the survey report having enough provision for at least 75% of children with SEND in their area.
Coram is recommending that the government take a number of key actions to ensure a “balanced” system, including:
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updating the current funding model to ensure rates cover the true cost of provision
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the removal of parental work criteria from the government-funded entitlements to give all children an equal right to quality early years education and provision
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the creation of a more flexible SEND funding system
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addressing sufficiency gaps by ensuring that new school-based early years settings are opened in areas of most need.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: “While it is positive that early years places are becoming more affordable for those families who are eligible for funded places, it’s clear from today’s findings that the early years sector in England is fast becoming a two-tier system.
“With the bulk of the early entitlement offers skewed towards working families, more and more children from disadvantaged backgrounds – who we know benefit the most from early education and care – are at risk of being frozen out of accessing affordable places.
“Add to this the fact that children with special educational needs continue to find it more difficult than their peers to access provision, and there’s no doubt that under the existing system, the children most in need of support are now the least likely to be able to access it.
“As our own recent research has shown, the combined impact of next month’s national insurance increases, wage rises, and updated charging guidance is likely to see settings limit places and raise their fees. It’s clear, therefore, that far more sector support is needed if every child is to be able to benefit from affordable provision.
“Ultimately, we know the only way of achieving this is to adequately fund the sector, both now and in the long term. If the government is truly committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, there simply is no other option.”