The party wants to increase the premium, which gives extra funding to early years settings when they take on three- or four-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds, from £302 to £1,000.
The increase will cost an extra £70m in 2018/2019, rising to £112m in 2021/22, according to a cost analysis published alongside the manifesto.
Tripling the early years pupil premium was previously a commitment in the Liberal Democrats' 2015 election manifesto. Last November the Social Mobility Commission, in its annual State of the Nation report, called for a doublng of the premium to combat worsening life chances for children and young people.
In addition, the Liberal Democrats have pledged to protect the school pupil premium, which is for children who are eligible for free school meals and is currently set at £1,320 for primary-age pupils and £935 for secondary-age pupils. Schools also receive £1,900 for pupils with experience of the care system.
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