Free nursery places for 140,000 disadvantaged toddlers

From: BBC NEWS Education & Family, 11 November 2011

The British government gives 15 hours a week free “early education” to all toddlers from low incomes family. These nurseries help the children to get ready for education in the future and subsequently a better life chance. Children are welcome between 07.00 and 19.00. The pilot plan has already begun for 20.000 children and it must be extended to 140.000. According to Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister, free education for toddlers should not be a privilege but a right.

My comment: It is really crucial for children to have a good basic education in order to be more successful in further education. However it costs the government a lot but it is a long term investment on these children. The parents of these children are more available for jobs while they do not have to pay for the nursery. In the Netherlands the cheapest nursery, de peuterspeelzaal, is only 4 hours a week and it costs € 50 per month.

 In my opinion it is an excellent program.