Early childhood care and education (ECCE) programmes are increasingly recognised as being important in achieving a number of social, cultural and economic goals which are vital in the fight against poverty. Significant investments in ECCE have been made across Latin America, and the Peruvian government is committed to increasing and improving existing services. Research from Young Lives in Peru finds that four out of five boys and girls among a sample of nearly 2,000 children accessed early education between the ages of 3 and 6. But it also shows that access is unequal. Gender, ethnicity, place of residence and mother tongue all have a significant effect on attendance. Furthermore, ECCE attendance by children under the age of 3 is very low. These findings suggest the need to target investment in ECCE to overcome unequal access, and to increase investment in services designed for children under 3. (author abstract)