Research undertaken by the children's charity shows 48 per cent of children in childcare settings do not have access to a qualified early years teacher or equivalent.
The charity has calculated that this is putting 325,000 children at risk of starting school behind in their education because its own research suggests children in early years settings without graduate-level teacher are almost 10 per cent less likely to reach their expected development levels by the time they go to school.
"Children who start behind, stay behind," said Steve McIntosh, director of UK poverty at Save the Children.
"But high-quality childcare, led by graduate early years teachers, can ensure children are ready for school. So instead of lowering ambitions for childcare quality, the government should keep its promise to address the crisis in training, recruiting and retaining these underpaid and undervalued teachers."
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