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.
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.
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