The public are ambitious about the potential role of childcare and early education. With a UK general election now announced, political parties should consider how they can meet this motivation with an improved early years offer.

The analysis makes clear that childcare and early education matter hugely to voters. This extends beyond just parents themselves, with grandparents in particular expressing acute concerns about current levels of provision.

IPPR conducted two surveys of adults in England to learn about perceptions of the childcare system, including:

• A survey of a nationally representative sample of more than 4,000 adults
• A survey of more than 2,000 parents and grandparents

Crucially, both surveys exposed that swing voters are more likely than others to identify childcare as a priority, and to report dissatisfaction with wraparound, nursery and childminder provision where they live. This suggests that a strong early years proposition could play a crucial role in influencing outcomes in marginal seats.

Key findings:

• Experiences of the current system vary widely, with parents of children with special educational needs more likely to struggle to find suitable childcare for their children, and parents on low incomes more likely to report low levels of satisfaction and confidence in nursery staff.
• Voters value the role childcare and early education can play in tackling disadvantage.
• There is strong support for expanding provision, with an extension of eligibility for two-year-olds particularly popular.
• Awareness of the fragility of the system was reflected by parents prioritising reinforcing support in the short-term over a rapid expansion of free childcare places.