Data from the Department for Education reveals huge variations between different areas in take up of 30 hours free childcare for three- and four-year-olds.
The statistics, released by childcare minister Robert Goodwill in parliament, shows that in 47 out of the 152 council areas, less than two-thirds of eligibility codes had been validated for use when the extended free entitlement began in September.
The figures show that in 14 areas less than half of eligibility codes had been validated, including in North Yorkshire, which piloted 30 hours. Meanwhile, in West Sussex, just 15 per cent of codes had been validated.
Across England however, 90 per cent of codes have been validated, leading early years organisations to raise concerns of a postcode lottery for parents in accessing 30 hours places. They have warned that the DfE's decision to freeze or cut 30-hour funding rates for 84 per cent of councils in 2018/19 could see more providers drop out of delivering the entitlement because they cannot make it pay.
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