Nursery World - 4.3 million parents could be without access to early support services

Millions of parents are missing out on, or struggling to access, early years support services due to the pandemic, according to Action for Children, which is calling on the Government to implement a 'minimum service guarantee'.

More than three-quarters of parents who were unable to access a service, typically offered in children’s centres, worried about the impact on themselves or their child PHOTO Adobe Stock

Findings from the charity's survey of more than 2,000 parents of children from birth to five, reveals that 82 per cent have been unable to access - or struggled to access - vital ‘lifeline’ early years support including child development and parenting support. When scaled up to represent all parents in England, Action for Children says this equates to 4.3 million parents.

More than three-quarters of parents surveyed who were unable to access a service, typically offered in children’s centres, said they were worried about the impact on themselves or their child. Worries included the impact on their child’s social and emotional development, their own wellbeing, their child’s ability to make friends as well as isolation and mental health.

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