A recent Ofsted report highlights the emergence of what it calls “childcare deserts” – areas, mainly in disadvantaged communities, where families have struggled to access childcare over the last four years.
The inspectorate’s report found “disproportionately deprived” areas with families with lower-than-average incomes experience “persistently low access to childcare”.
The North East has the highest proportion of childcare deserts of any region followed by the West Midlands. Council areas worst affected by poor access are Torbay, Walsall, Sunderland, Slough and Hartlepool.
It found that one in five of these areas of persistently low access are in the countryside, with providers being put off setting up nurseries there by low population density and poor transport links.
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