Jeremy Corbyn MP has used his Labour Party Conference speech to pledge an expansion of free childcare and to improve the pay and skill levels of childcare staff.

Save the Children has experts on childcare available for interview. Please contact media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44 (0) 20 7012 6841 / +(0) 44 7831 650409 with any enquiries.

In response, Steven McIntosh, Director of UK Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children said:

“It is fantastic to see the early years being centre stage at a major political party conference. Childcare plays a decisive role in supporting all children to get the best start in life. This is especially true for the poorest children, who are more likely to fall behind in their pre-school years. The poorest families have the most to gain from a childcare system that works and investment should begin with them.

“Any expansion of free childcare must go hand in hand with boosting quality. We know that early years teachers play a crucial role in driving up the quality of nurseries, and we look forward to seeing the detail of proposals to boost the graduate early years workforce. This needs to be matched with appropriate investment.”

ENDS