The most disadvantaged families had the lowest take-up of the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds; 13 per cent failed to take it up, compared with 3 per cent among families with no disadvantage.
Using data from the Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents from 2008 to 2009, researchers analysed how the take-up is affected by circumstances including worklessness, low income, living in a deprived area and disability.
The study found that lack of knowledge about the availability of the free entitlement was the main barrier to disadvantaged families using it, as well as lack of information about the different options of childcare available to them.
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