MP Gordon Prentice met voters of the future when he visited a nursery school to discuss the implications of the Government's new nursery voucher scheme.

The high-level politics went over the heads of youngsters at Woodfield Nursery in Sefton Street, Brierfield, but the Pendle MP was interested to hear staff's comments.

Mr Prentice said: "I want to see universal, high quality nursery education for all three and four olds whose parents want it but this is not what the Government is offering.

"The new nursery voucher scheme is a complete waste of time for people living in areas where there is no nursery provision to begin with or in areas where provision is patchy."

He added: "Any additional money earmarked for nursery education should go to the local authority, ring-fenced if necessary, and not to this ridiculous voucher scheme."

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