Disadvantaged children in England are being prevented from taking up their entitlement to 15 hours of funded early education, according to research.

Research from Coram Family and Childcare has found confusion about the different childcare entitlements, difficulties with the application process, restrictions on how funded hours can be accessed and additional charges made by nurseries make it challenging for parents to navigate the system.

The report, Early education for disadvantaged children: How local action can support take-up of the 15 hours found lengthy application processes and complex systems make accessing funded childcare difficult for parents, particularly those with English as an additional language or with low literacy or digital skills.

The report, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, highlighted concerns from childcare providers about the adequacy of funding for the three- to four-year-old entitlement, and inadequate funding to support disadvantaged children, particularly those with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). It said providers were creating further barriers to take-up, such as constraining the number and structure of funded places offered, and asking parents to pay additional charges.

Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: “Right now, disadvantaged children are entitled to only half the hours of funded early education that children with working parents get, and at a later age. We have to ask ourselves if this is what we want for our children. Childcare is important for enabling families to work, but going to nursery isn’t just about childcare, it’s early education too. The government has recognised that in their commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child, and their ambition to boost the number of children reaching their early learning goals. To do that, the funded entitlement must be accessible to all children.”

To support higher take-up of the 15-hours entitlement, the report calls for:

• A ‘fair’ funding model that fully covers the costs of delivering funded hours, including the resources required to support children with SEND and other disadvantaged groups.
• Strengthened government guidance, to ensure that the 15 hours are genuinely free for families and admissions are inclusive.
• A universal entitlement to 15 hours of funded early education for two-year-olds
• Greater use of tailored one-to-one support to families who face more barriers, particularly home visits
• Making early education entitlement ‘conversations’ a routine part of the work of all family-facing professionals.