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.