Labour promises for pre-school sector

Pre-school representatives took scant notice of a Labour pledge on Neighbourhood Nurseries unveiled at their annual conference last week. Education secretary David Blunkett told delegates at the Pre-school Learning Alliance's 40th anniversary conference in London that if re-elected Labour would fund between 100 and 150 pre-schools as Neighbourhood Nurseries in deprived parts of England over the next three years. It took the Alliance president Alan Tuckett to draw attention to the promise, which could be worth at least £20m. He called for a round of applause for Mr Blunkett and told the conference, 'The 100 to 150 Neighbourhood Nurseries is...