Balls unveils 10-year children's plan

LONDON - The government announced a raft of measures as part of a billion pound package on Tuesday to help improve children's life at school and at play over the next 10 years.

Among the measures announced by Children's Secretary Ed Balls were more nursery places in deprived areas, a focus on teaching English, maths and foreign languages in primary schools, "stage not age" national testing and adventure play parks.

They also included support for parents, provision of health and social services for children at secondary school and a review of the impact of video games.

Balls told MPs in the Commons that his Children's Plan would "unlock the talents and promote the health and happiness of all children, and not just some".

"With the reforms I have already announced to the House... this Children's Plan sets us on course to deliver ambitious, long-term goals for a world-class education for every child," he said.

The plan follows months of nationwide consultation with parents, teachers, professionals and children, and comes in the wake of a government survey published last month which found more needed to be done to help children from deprived areas to close the achievement gap.

Another survey found Britain falling in global rankings in the teaching of basic subjects such as maths and reading.

Teaching unions welcomed the "ambitious plans", adding that a radical overhaul was over due.

But some called for the abolition of school league tables, and warned it would take time to get the necessary language teachers into primary schools.

Michael Gove, Conservative shadow children's secretary, said the measures fell short on delivering crucial powers to parents and teachers.

David Laws, Lib Dem spokesman on children, said the minister failed to mention child poverty and educational deprivation, and was limited on the number of free nursery places offered.

The 10-year plan included:

* Raising the number of hours of free nursery care for all three- and four-year-olds from 12 to 15, and extending the offer of free nursery places to 20,000 two-year-olds.

* First "root-and-branch" review of the primary curriculum in more than a decade to create more space for teaching English, maths and a foreign language.

* Funding to help teachers study for a masters-level qualification and to lure talented people into teaching.

* A personal tutor for every secondary school child.

* Parents to receive texts and emails on the progress, attendance and behaviour of their child.

* Support for young people most at risk of falling into crime.

* Commission of a report to look into the possible impact from the Internet and video games.

* More youth centres and improved play areas as well as 30 safe and supervised adventure play parks.