The number of children in poverty looks set to rise and the gap in outcomes between the most disadvantaged children and their peers is likely to widen. Many families will face challenges of poverty, ill health, bereavement and unemployment, with knock-on effects for children's health and wellbeing. There are fears that children will miss out on their early education entitlements as parents' need for childcare and risk-benefit assessments of sending their children to nursery are influenced by new realities and perceptions. As part of a joined-up package of services, early childhood education can be a source of support for parents and an opportunity for children to thrive in a safe and supportive environment. Government needs to ensure that its early years policies keep in focus both the needs of young children and those of working parents. This report considers recent government policy on early childhood education and care in England, and whether the right balance is being achieved between, on the one hand, supporting child development and learning through high quality education provision and, on the other hand, raising parental employment through flexible, affordable childcare. This report is published with an accompanying brief looking at the effects of the crisis on early years in more detail. [For the accompanying brief, "COVID-19 and Social Mobility Impact Brief #4: Early Years. Research Brief," see ED609935.]