The divide is affected by education, too. The ONS found that areas with higher childcare access were more likely to have women with higher levels of qualification.

The report did not take the affordability of childcare into account, but with the National Childbirth Trust finding that part-time nursery care now costs over £7,000 a year, it’s clear that accessible and affordable childcare remains a huge issue in the UK. And, with more deprived areas having less accessibility in the first place, it’s clear the divide will only become greater between lower- and higher-income families if nothing changes. Commenting on the ONS research, Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, said: “Childcare is a key part of our economic infrastructure. It’s how we support parents to work and contributes massively to closing the gender pay gap. Women shouldn’t have to give up or cut down paid work because they can’t find the right care for their children and every child should have access to good childcare and early education. We desperately need quality childcare for all families – regardless of where they live – so that all children can access early years education and all mums who want to work can do so.”

New research finds areas with lower levels of access to childcare are more likely to have children living in poverty