Extra £2bn for nurseries will give every 3-year-old a place

Every three-year-old in England will be entitled to a free nursery place under a £2bn programme announced by David Blunkett yesterday.

Every three-year-old in England will be entitled to a free nursery place under a £2bn programme announced by David Blunkett yesterday.

The Secretary of State for Education also pledged £8bn over three years to repair and replace dilapidated schools. And an extra £150m would helpBritain's seven million illiterate adults, he said. Mr Blunkett said a strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy would be a key aim for a second- term Labour government. "Lifelong learning is more than a slogan: we are making it a reality, starting with those who missed out first time around."

Mr Blunkett gained a standing ovation for a speech in which he reiterated his commitment to a high standard of education for all, regardless of social background or educational start in life. "What is good enough for the well-off, what is good enough for my children, I want for every child."

A typical English primary school will get £16,000 a year to maintain buildings and the average secondary will receive £50,000 by 2003-2004.

Mr Blunkett said the Government's job was to ensure "every school is a good school - that the roof doesn't leak, that the heating works, that the children are warm, that temporary classrooms are replaced, that schools are refurbished".