A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that the government's combined spending on early years provision rose to £5.77bn in 2017/18.
It represents the first spending rise since 2014/15 when spending rose to a record £5.84bn, but fell in subsequent years to £5.57bn in 2015/16 and £5.38bn in 2016/17.
The study said the rise in spending witnessed in 2017/18 is largely down to the extension of funded childcare for three- and four-year-olds from 15 hours a week to 30 hours a week which was introduced in September 2017.
Spending on early years entitlements for three- and four-year-olds rose from £2.44bn in 2016/17 to £2.98bn in 2017/18.
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