Election 2017 Party Policy Guide: Childcare and early years

Conservatives

Labour

Liberal Democrats

Commentary

While the Conservative Party has said it will "assess what more is needed" over the childcare pledge it made at the 2015 election - to provide 30 hours of free childcare for all three- and four-year-olds - both Labour and the Lib Dems go a lot further.

Labour plans to extend the 30 hours entitlement to all two-year-olds and "move towards" making some childcare available for one-year-olds.

The Lib Dems say they would provide 15 hours a week of free childcare to all two-year-olds and strive to provide 15 hours for all children aged between nine months and two years, and introduce a goal of 30 hours free childcare for all two- to four-year-olds.

The National Day Nurseries Association says Labour's plans are "overly ambitious", adding that the Liberal Democrats are committing to an expansion of the current system which is already struggling with underfunding.