Labour
would guarantee 15 hours a week free child care for all 3 and 4 year
olds, with a goal to increase this to 20 hours a week. Parents will be
given access to affordable care for 3 year olds. Every community is to
have a children's centre. Mothers and fathers will be able to share
maternity leave. Every child of school age will have access to out of
school care and activities until 18.00.
Conservatives
The
Conservatives would give 1/4 million parents a new childcare payment
worth £50 a week for every child under 5 years old. Maternity pay would
become more flexible with mothers getting a higher rate of pay per week
if they claimed for six months instead of nine months. Companies are to
be offered £10,000 grants to set up nurseries. The Conservatives would
offer courses to grandparents who wanted to refresh their childcare
skills.
Liberal
Democrats
The
Liberal Democrats would introduce a maternity income guarantee of £170
a week after the birth of a first child. Class sizes in primary schools
would be reduced. England would get a Children's Commission. Pre-school
and after-school care for 3 to 4 year olds would be extended. 3,500
children's centres would be established throughout the country.