82pc of parents struggle to get early years help

More than four in five parents with preschool children have struggled to access vital early years support services – and the pandemic has made the situation worse, a survey suggests.

Overall, 82 per cent of parents surveyed have been unable or have struggled to access early years support as many children’s centres and family hubs were forced to close or move online, according to a study by Action for Children, which involved more than 2,000 parents. The charity is calling on the Government to give parents a “minimum service guarantee” in next month’s Spending Review.