What is important is ensuring that every child has the best and the earliest start in their education. That is why we are providing free, part-time early education for all three and four year olds. In disadvantaged neighbourhoods we are bringing children’s services together within the Sure Start programme.

At the beginning of July I was delighted to open Bransty Primary School’s new nursery extension. It is terrific news for children and parents in Bransty to have this wonderful new, well-equipped, modern facility. This is another boost for a school which has been setting standards and is at the cutting edge of primary education.
The extension is a tribute to former head teacher Sam Kidd, who secured government funding for the project which provides an area for small groups, quiet activities, a new kitchen area, space for hearing-impaired children as well as improvements to the garden area.

In 1997, there was no guarantee of early years child care for parents. Since then, 450,000 more child-care places have been created. Now every three and four year-old is now guaranteed a free part-time nursery place - in Cumbria Local Education Authority alone there were 8,500 free nursery education places for three and four year-olds in 2003. In addition, in the poorest fifth of places, new Sure Start children centres are providing high quality early education, childcare, health, family support and help into employment for poorer families.

Just as last month I wrote about providing security and dignity for older people so we must do more for children and families.

Labour is committed to halving child poverty within ten years as the first step on the way to abolishing it within a generation. In 1997, Labour inherited one of the highest rates of child poverty in Europe - with one in three children living in poverty. Our mission to abolish child poverty is grounded both in our determination to secure social justice, and to tackle the problems that the social exclusion of children builds up for the long term.

The Bransty School nursery extension is just one project. The Howgill Family Centre in Whitehaven has expanded to work with under-5s throughout Copeland - including Egremont - with its Family Support programme reaching 1200 families and 15000 children. In addition new children's centres are planned for both Cleator Moor and Millom.

The whole community can be proud of these achievements and the fantastic efforts that staff, volunteers and families all make in giving Copeland's children the best start in life.