Parents need strong, well-funded childcare provision so they can go out and work – and so working pays. A Conservative government will fund 30 hours of free childcare for all working parents of 3- and 4-year olds, worth £5,000 a year to each family. We have already extended the universal entitlement so that all parents can access free childcare for 15 hours a week, as well as the same provision for over a quarter of a million 2-year-olds from low-income families. To help families make their money go that bit further, from autumn 2015 tax-free childcare will also be available to nearly 2 million households.

Stephen McPartland said, "I know that this will be a major boost to local families as the cost of childcare spiralled out of control under the Labour Government. Good quality, affordable childcare provision that suits parents’ needs is what every family needs. I understand this and I have been working to make this a reality for local families.

"Parents also need to have confidence that their children are going to be safe and happy while they are being looked after, so improving the quality of childcare has been a priority. As well as making childcare more affordable, we have taken steps to make it more widely available to parents.  We are encouraging more schools to offer nursery provision and to open from 8am to 6pm. We have also made it easier for schools to teach children under three by getting rid of the requirement to register separately with Ofsted."

You can only have stronger public services with a stronger economy and only the Conservatives have a clear long-term economic plan to secure a better future for families.

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