Farron: '2500 children will benefit from early years education in Cumbria by 2014'

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has joined with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to welcome news that 2500 two-year-old children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Cumbria will receive free early years education by next year.

This is in addition to all three and four-year-old children in Cumbria who are already eligible to receive 15 hours of free early years education per week. From today, 130,000 two-year olds from the poorest homes will be eligible for 15 hours of free childcare a week with a nursery or childminder. In Cumbria a further 813 children will benefit this year and in 2014 that will rise to 2,500 children who will be receiving extra support.

The Government is investing more than £500 million into childcare this year and £100 million through local authorities to create new places to ensure those children eligible right now can benefit from these places.

Commenting, Tim said: "This is great news for two-year-olds and their families in our area. I know the great boost early years education in our area gives to young children and how it really prepares them for school. It's also a huge help to parents who may be struggling to juggle work commitments with having young children. Early education can make a huge difference to the start of a child's progress, unlocking their potential to help them follow their ambitions.

"Policies such as making early years education freely available to the least well-off families and making additional money available to schools whose pupils are eligible for free school meals through the Pupil Premium are focusing help on the pupils who most need it."