This paper starts with a description of the childcare market in England, highlighting the differences in provision across the state, private and voluntary sectors. It then goes on to look in turn at each of the levers available to government: provision, funding and regulation, drawing on international experience to identify the strengths and weaknesses of how each lever is used in England. Finally, the paper puts forward a set of possible reforms to funding and regulation that together would improve quality and affordability, while protecting the access to childcare that has been achieved over the last decade. (author abstract)