According to the House of Commons Library data, the number of early years places fell from 1,332,903 on 30 September 2009 to 1,287,091 on 31 December 2015. This is a loss of 45,812 places.
There was also a decline of 15,749 early years providers, reveals the data.
Labour’s shadow early years minister Tulip Siddiq said the figures show that nursery provision is in ‘crisis’ and ‘deepening by the day’.
Currently eight ‘early implementer’ local authorities are taking part in a pilot of the 30 free hours childcare for parents of three- and four-year-olds.
Ms Siddiq said the Government had failed to invest, 'which then leaves nursery providers to pick up the tab, by providing twice the childcare for less money.
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