Children's minister Margaret Hodge

Childcare campaigners have called on the minister for children to do more for ethnic minorities.

The Daycare Trust published a report on Wednesday highlighting the divide between white and ethnic minority parents in accessing childcare.

Researchers found that only 81 per cent of black parents and 70 per cent of Asian parents accessed any form of childcare last year, compared with 87 per cent of white parents.

Children's minister Margaret Hodge heard the conclusions of the report at a Daycare Trust seminar where she was given a series of warnings.

The report recommended that all early years nursery and childminder services should fully implement the Race Relations Act and that both local and national government should commit to regular monitoring of the National Childcare Strategy for black and minority ethnic groups.

"Quality affordable childcare for all can contribute hugely to a thriving and just society for everyone who lives in Britain," Commission for Racial Equality chairman Trevor Phillips wrote in the foreword to the report."Different minority ethnic groups have different needs.

"By being sensitive to this and by being open and responsive, we will be successful in engaging, empowering and informing black and minority ethnic groups to get the most out of the National Childcare Strategy."

Daycare Trust director Stephen Burke said the lack of equality in childcare provision was holding back social mobility.

"Childcare can help promote equality and tackle disadvantage, but still too many children and families from black and minority ethnic communities are missing out," he warned.

"The recommendations in this report will help build a thriving multi-ethnic Britain where everyone has a better chance in life."