Childminders improve young children's language and behaviour, research from the study of Early Education and Development has found.

The research, funded by the Department for Education, tracked 6,000 children from the age of 2 since 2014.

It found that childminders had a particularly positive impact on young children's cognitive development and verbal ability.

Children attending a childminding setting were also found to have fewer emotional symptoms, such as anxiety and stress, and behavioural self-regulation.

The study revealed that children benefit from formal and informal early education and care, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds likely to benefit even more.