ACCORDING to the Liberal Democrats manifesto the next government's "first priority" will be education. By adding an extra 1p in the pound to the basic rate of income tax the Liberal Democrats will raise an additional £2 billion every year for education.
During the next five years, £10 billion invested in education will mean that no child between the age of five and 11 will sit in a classroom with more than 30 other pupils. The Liberal Democrats identify as a "key priority" in government the doubling of spending on books and equipment and tackling the backlog of repair to school buildings.
Children with special needs will be supported. The Liberal Democrats will "fully fund" the implementation of a Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs. In government, the Liberal Democrats will abolish the Nursery Voucher Scheme. Instead, it will provide a "variety of provision" from the voluntary, public and private sectors.
The National Curriculum will be improved with a greater focus on religious education. The Liberal Democrats oppose selection in schools - decisions on grant-maintained schools should be made at a local level, the manifesto states, "not by politicians at Westminster".