Building Britain's Future

Our children deserve education of the highest standards, so they can fulfil their potential and help build Britain’s Future. The early years are particularly important when it comes to giving children the best start in life.

Sure Start is instrumental in strengthening family life through affordable childcare. Over the last 10 years, the Government’s built 3,000 centres, giving over 2.3 million children a place to learn and play. We’re increasing this number to 3,500, so there‘s one within reach of every community across the country.

As well as childcare, Sure Start Children’s Centres also offer health and education support for young children under five, and all kinds of invaluable advice and help for mums and dads. Many services are available free, or for a small charge. Some centres even offer parents opportunities for work and training. For all the details, see Sure Start Children's Centres [External website].

We’ve also improved education and childcare policy. All three- and four-year-olds are guaranteed early education by September 2011. Four-year-olds will be able to start school in the September after their birthday, or will be offered 25 hours of free early learning a week. We’ve also begun rolling out free childcare to two year-olds. This means the most vulnerable families can access up to 1,500 hours of free childcare during their child’s first five years.

During the next stage of schooling, we’re giving parents greater involvement in their children’s learning and development, and working to deliver individually tailored education to each child, including personal tutors in secondary school, stretching teaching, and catch-up tuition for those who need it.