Labour believes in fair chances for all - we want to ensure that everyone can share in the new benefits that progress brings.
There are few more important ways to build for Britain's future than through investment in the talents of the British people. As we come out of the global downturn opportunities for all - and the investment in education and skills that make them possible - must remain at the heart of our programme for a stronger, fairer Britain.
The best start in life
In difficult times parents need to give every child the best start in life. The Labour government has delivered nearly 3,000 Sure Start Children's Centres, reaching two million children and their families and has given all parents of children up to the age of 16 the right to request flexible working.
And far from cutting back at the worst possible time, by next year there will be 3,500 Children's Centres, one in every community in England.
We are committed to building on our record of enhancing excellence in schools through continued investment and reform so that we can achieve truly world class standards of education. Every parent should be confident that their child can go to a good school, with high standards of teaching, a rich and full curriculum, and proper discipline in classrooms. Our investment has achieved real results, enabling 100,000 more 11 year olds to master literacy and 93,000 more to master numeracy since 1997. Today, 81 per cent of 11-year -olds reach the expected level in English and 78 per cent in Maths.
But we want to go further. In our schools, Labour will provide one-to-one tuition in English and Maths to 300,000 pupils who are falling behind their peers.
Over 1,100 new schools have been rebuilt or newly built. Labour is committed to rebuilding or refurbishing every secondary school and half of all primary schools in the coming years.
The opportunities of the future
In changing economic times young people must continue - in contrast to previous recessions - to have access to all the opportunity and skills they need to get on in life. Labour will guarantee every 16 and 17 year old who wants to stay in education a paid-for place at school or college, an apprenticeship or training. This is our ‘September guarantee’. By 2015 every young person up to 18 will be in education or training, either in the workplace or at school or college. More people are benefiting from higher education than ever before, and we are spending 23 per cent more on higher education now than in 1997. Around two thirds of full-time students who apply and are eligible for support will receive a full or partial grant of up to £2,835 in 2008/09, helping to widen participation in higher education.
We want one in five young people to take up apprenticeship places within the next ten years. In order to fulfil our ambition for young people, we are increasing the number of apprenticeships for under 18s and are legislating to ensure every suitably qualified young person who wants to do an apprenticeship can do so. This year for the first time, we plan over a quarter of a million new apprenticeships.