Labour's big idea: childcare centres at all primary schools

A nationwide childcare network, based on children's centres at almost every primary school, is expected to form the centre of Labour's manifesto at the next election.

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have asked policy advisers to draw up proposals to give a boost to child care to help Britain's families to juggle the competing pressures of work and raising children.

Ministers believe the plan is the way to reduce inequality and are studying evidence that pre-school help is the best way to enhance the prospects of disadvantaged children.

The national network is seen as the most likely big idea for the manifesto on which Labour will fight to win a third term. Policy advisers believe it could become as important as Margaret Thatcher allowing council tenants to buy their homes and the Wilson government opening the Open University.

One aide said: "This could be Labour's legacy to the country - a tangible reminder at every school of what the Government achieved. It would unite the party too. Everyone believes in it." Another adviser said: "We have got to invest in babies. We have not done enough to close the gap between rich and poor. If we are serious about tackling inequality then we have to catch the children young and lock them into the system."

Comprehensive child care would cost billions but one option is to charge the better-off for the service while providing it free for the poor. In effect, the middle classes would subsidise the poor, redistributing wealth.

Mr Blair does not want to raise taxes to expand public services but believes the cost should be shared between the state and the citizen. Another issue to be considered is the high cost of child care in London, where some families pay about £1,000 a month.

The Government would not run the centres - there would be a mixture of state, private and voluntary provision. But the Government would ensure the current patchy provision was replaced by child care in every area and regulate standards.

The centres could open from 7am to 7pm, enabling many more women to go to work. But they would offer much more than child care, becoming one-stop shops for working and non-working parents by offering advice on health and providing antenatal and parental classes. Existing help for parents is seen as too little too late and is often not provided until children are in trouble.

So far, 32 children's centres have opened and the Government hopes to provide 136 by 2006. Some advisers want to promise a children's centre at every primary school.

The Dead Flag: Martin Newell's version of the anthem that closed the conference

When party blurred from red to pink

The voters weren't sure what to think

But once the honeymoon was through

The flag was tinged distinctly blue

The poodle did as poodles do

Went off to war, as ordered to

Thus knocking neatly on the head

The last pretence the flag was red

The nation's health is getting worse

So blame the doctor and the nurse

And when the targets can't be hit

Massage the figures so they fit

The schools and universities

Are facing such adversities

But button it in Bournemouth though

It's nothing that we need to know

Goodbye to all the union men

And sandwiches at Number Ten

It's olives and ciabatta bread

Feng-shui, some spin then early bed

And if the voters feel bereft

Get Gordon Brown to schmooze the left

We'll pray the scandals disappear

And keep the dead flag flying here.