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Clegg calls for extension to the free entitlement

All children from one to five years old could benefit from free hours of early education, in plans being considered by the Liberal Democrats.

The policy paper, which was launched by Deputy Prime Minister and the Liberal Democrat leader at the party's Autumn Conference rally in Glasgow on Saturday (14 September), outlines plans to extend the free entitlement to ten hours for children between the ages of one and two, 15 hours for all two- to three-year- olds, 20 hours for three- to four-year-olds and 25 hours for four- to five-year-olds.

Families whose household income is under £100,000 a year would be eligible.

The Liberal Democrats say that increasing the free entitlement and funding it at the ‘real cost’ of delivery, will act as a brake on the cost of additional hours and is the only way to reduce the average hourly cost of childcare to parents without risking quality.

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