Almost four years after free childcare became available, figures have revealed that thousands of two-year-olds in west London are missing out.

New figures show only six in 10 eligible children in the area are benefiting from the policy.

It means the parents of an estimated 3,575 two-year-olds in west London are not getting any government-funded childcare, despite being entitled to 15 hours a week.

Since the end of 2013, two-year-olds have been eligible for 15 hours of early education per week provided their parents receive certain benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance, or if the child is looked after by a local authority.

There are currently more than 8,600 two-year-olds in west London estimated to qualify.

The number of parents taking advantage of the offer has been on the rise since 2013.

In 2015, for example, just 45% of eligible two-year-olds in west London received free early education, compared to 55% in 2016 and the 59% seen this year.

However, the percentage of two-year-olds receiving any free childcare still falls far short of the number of three and four-year-olds in government-funded education.

This year, 85% of eligible three and four-year-olds have benefited from up to 15 hours of free childcare a week in west London.

The fact that this remains so much higher than the uptake for two-year-olds suggests many parents may still be unaware free childcare is available for younger toddlers, despite it being on offer for more than three years.

Parents in Hillingdon are the least likely in west London, and some of the least likely in the country, to take advantage of the free childcare on offer for two-year olds, while those in Hounslow are the most likely.

Childcare for two-year-olds

Department for Education

In Brent, 785 eligible children are missing out on free childcare, the largest amount in west London.

Hillingdon comes a close second with 770 children, however the area does have the highest percentage of children missing the free service at 55%.

In Harrow, 45% of children are missing out while Ealing has 41% and Kensington & Chelsea 31% of children missing out on free childcare.

Westminster is on 36%, Hammersmith & Fulham has 34% while in Hounslow 28% of children are missing out on free childcare.

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