Anne Longfield has made the recommendation in her Best Beginnings report, which calls for 30-hours a week of government-funded childcare for working families to be expanded to all children aged two to four.
She also wants to see all one-year-olds entitled to 15 free hours a week. This is currently offered to disadvantaged two-year olds and all three and four year olds.
The move is needed to improve the life chances of all children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, Longfield said.
Extending free hours will also aid the economic recovery to help more parents return to work as lockdown restrictions ease.
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