Nursery World - Universal access is at heart of strategy

An extension of free nursery education, an out-of-school childcare place for all three- to 14-year-olds and increased maternity leave and childcare tax credits are key elements of the Government's ten-year childcare strategy unveiled last week. In his pre-Budget report, Chancellor Gordon Brown also pledged 3,500 children's centres by 2010, legislation obliging local authorities to meet parents' childcare needs and consultation on a single quality framework for services for children from birth to five years in 2006.

In his pre-Budget report, Chancellor Gordon Brown also pledged 3,500 children's centres by 2010, legislation obliging local authorities to meet parents' childcare needs and consultation on a single quality framework for services for children from birth to five years in 2006.

Choice for parents, the best start for children: a ten-year strategy for childcare states that the childcare element of the working tax credit will increase from 135 to 175 a week for one child and from 200 to 300 for two or more children from April next year. The Government said 20,000 families would benefit immediately, as would many more over time.

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