It found that “disproportionately deprived” areas with families with lower-than-average incomes experience “persistently low access to childcare”.
These "childcare deserts" are also prevalent in the one in eight areas of England that are largely rural, adds the inspectorate's report.
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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.
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.
Ofsted warns that “continued low access to childcare over time is likely to reduce parents’ ability to re-enter the workforce”.
Given that free early years hours are offered to working families, this situation “will also prevent children from receiving the same benefits from early years education their peers in areas with higher access are likely to have”, it states.
Ofsted also found that affluent areas have experienced “consistently high access to childcare” over many years.
These ‘childcare oases’ are most prevalent in suburbs of large urban areas in the South East of England and London, with low rates of disability and high rates of home ownership.
Areas with the best access to childcare are Wokingham, Wandsworth, Bromley, Richmond upon Thames and Brighton & Hove.
The inspectorate’s report, which has been published in collaboration with the Office of National Statistics, looks at access to childcare over the last four years, which it found is declining across England.
Early Years Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch said the report’s findings are “deeply concerning”.
“Not only is it now more difficult for families to access early years provision than it was four years ago, but those from disadvantaged backgrounds are the most likely to struggle to find a place,” he said.
“Given that, alongside this, the vast majority of entitlements are now geared towards working families, it’s clear that we are in danger of creating of a two-tier early year system where those most in need – who we know benefit the most from early education – are unable to access it.
“At a time when there is so much rhetoric about the need to ‘close the gap’, this is simply unacceptable.”
He called on the government to “deliver meaningful long-term policies that ensure that every child – regardless of their background, household income or circumstances – can benefit from the quality care and education they deserve”.
Ofsted concludes that any policy solution to declining access “will need to ensure childcare providers enter and remain within the sector to support all families across the country”.
