It's interesting to see that, despite ideological differences, Labour, the LibDems and Conservatives would all increase maternity pay. Elsewhere, there is more divergence, with the Tories setting out plans to boost unregulated childcare. The LibDems look to be promising to keep the main elements of the ten-year strategy while increasing the amount of free nursery education, for example.
Labour will be hoping that its record in launching the first-ever National Childcare Strategy and many other initiatives will persuade those involved in the sector to vote to keep them in power. Whatever the criticisms of some of the Government's policies, no-one could deny that there has been time and money invested in early years education and childcare as never before.
More money, but still not enough, many would argue. The unveiling of the funding for the second wave of children's centres has been met with concern that the capital funding will not cover costs for such an ambitious programme (see News, page 4).