The party's manifesto, which has been launched today, states that there will be free universal early education and childcare for all children, with children starting formal education at age seven. Current rules are that children must start school the September after their fourth birthday.
The pledge to guarantee free universal early education and childcare for all children is the most ambitious to be set out by a political party ahead of next month's general election.
Currently all three- and four-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of government funded care a week, but this will be extended to 30 hours from September.
The Liberal Democrats' plans have said that their long-term goal is to provide 30 hours a week of free care to all children aged from two to four. Initially, however, it will offer 15 hours of free care weekly to all two-year-olds, and 15 hours weekly to working parents of children aged from nine months to two years.
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