The Family and Childcare Trust research, which forms part of its annual Childcare Costs Survey to be published in March, reveals that only three-quarters of the 130,000 two-year-olds that became eligible for a free place in September 2013 had taken it up.
Around a quarter of those eligible for the free early education funding, the equivalent of 30,000, are currently without a free early education place.
The Family and Childcare trust claims there are big variances between local authorities in the proportions of children taking up a place, with the policy 'failing' in some areas.
According to the Trust, Department for Education figures for 2012-13 show that last November 37 local authorities had provided less than 60 per cent of eligible two-year-olds with a free place. Of these 37 local authorities, 25 were in London.
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