Richer families in England ‘almost six times as likely to benefit from childcare expansion’

Report argues that children of low-income households are being shut out from childcare, which will exacerbate inequality. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Richer families in England are almost six times as likely to benefit from the government’s childcare expansion as low-income families, research has revealed.

Experts have warned that poorer children will be “denied access” to early years education because their parents do not meet the government’s eligibility criteria, which states that both parents must work at least 16 hours a week.