Nick Clegg: Childcare will add up to a fairer society

One of my biggest priorities in Government is to ensure that when you and your children set out to achieve your ambitions, the choices available to you are greater and the sums add up a little easier. At every step on this road, we’re working hard to build a stronger economy and fairer society in Britain. A Britain fit for modern families.

So from this month we’re not only extending free childcare for two year-olds to help families that need it the most but we’re also rolling out free school meals for every single child in the first three years of school (aged four to seven) – that’s 152,786 more children across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Free School Meals will not only save parents across the region around £400 per year, per child but the benefits for children speak for themselves.

In areas where we’ve been piloting free school meals, early research shows that pupils are up to two months ahead of their peers in other places and have a better chance of improving in all subjects from maths and science to writing and reading. Plus they’re more likely to eat vegetables at lunchtime rather than less healthy options like crisps.

This is also crucial for making sure every child gets the best start – regardless of their background and how much money their parents have. Too often in Britain’s schools we still see poorer children falling behind their better-off classmates, and it starts to happen very early on.

By making sure all little boys and girls are getting a healthy meal we can help level the playing field and close this gap – and for me, nothing is more important than that.

That’s why we’ve invested £760m to double the offer of free childcare for two-year-olds so that from this month it will now cover up to 40 per cent of families who need it the most.

That means around 30,000 two-year-olds in Yorkshire and the Humber will now qualify for 15 hours a week of free childcare.

You’re eligible if your household income is less than £16,190 and you receive Working Tax Credit. If that’s you, or you think it might be, your local authority is there to help you take up a place for your child.

Too often, where a child is born or where they go to school determines how successful they are in life. Social mobility cannot be fixed overnight, but I’m committed to doing all I can to help young people from deprived backgrounds overcome the barriers to success that they face.

That’s why I’ve pushed hard to make free school meals and free childcare for two-year-olds a reality and help ease the pressure for millions of families across the country.

I’m proud of what we’re doing and the difference we are making to children’s lives – whether it’s through the introduction of the pupil premium, raising the personal allowance on income tax or supporting more flexible parental leave.

We’re well on our way to building a fairer society which helps parents make the best choices for their children while balancing the demands of their family lives.

Nick Clegg is the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam.