LABOUR’S Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has pledged to modernise childcare in Uxbridge and South Ruislip after learning two in three children miss out on childcare places.

She was accompanied by parliamentary candidate Danny Beales on a visit to Ruislip Stars Nurseries on Thursday (29). 

Labour is pledging to support families from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school.

This includes offering free breakfast clubs for primary school pupils – worth up to £1,900 a year per child.

Bridget Phillipson MP said: “The falling availability and spiralling cost of childcare is forcing parents to cut back on jobs and hours, or to leave the labour market.”

Conservative candidate Steve Tuckwell responded: “I welcome the steps taken by this Conservative Government to support families, with the largest ever expansion of free childcare making sure places will be available for parents who need them, saving a working parent using 30 hours a week an average of £6,500.

“It’s all about choice, but for parents who want to return to the workplace it needs to be economically viable, and helping parents back into work also helps our economy.”