Balls details 10-year children's plan
Updated on 11 December 2007
Plans for foreign language lessons in all primary schools, fewer exams, and a new 'play strategy' were unveiled by government today.
Children Secretary Ed Balls vowed to make Britain "the best place for children to grow up" as he outlined his new 10-year children's plan.
The Tories greeted the plans with scepticism, accusing government of falling behind other countries in terms of the nation's educational achievement.
Balls told Parliament: "We must do more to prevent children falling behind and failing to fulfil their potential."
The overhaul will see all primary school children learn a foreign language, as well as focus on English and maths.
He said the "early years were critical" as he promised a review of primary school curricula, moving towards a "stage not age" philosophy, meaning fewer tests.
The overhaul will see all primary school children learn a foreign language, as well as focus on English and maths.
As part of the new plans teachers will also be supported to masters level qualifications, in a bid to bring "more talented" people into the profession.
Meanwhile, an extra £18m will be ear-marked to support special needs children in schools, while progress reports will be set up for all pupils - from nursery age.
The Children Secretary also said he would take measures to ensure that every child has a personal tutor who stays with them throughout their secondary school years.
Twenty thousand free nursery school places will also be made available, as well as a major overhaul of play areas.
Balls said: "A total of £160m will be spent in the next two years on the development of high quality youth facilities for young people - to be shaped by young people themselves.
"This could be 50 new youth centres - or 500 refurbished youth centres."
Millions will also be earmarked for new playgrounds fro younger children, with Balls promising an average of 23 per county.
The investment forms part of what Balls described as the government's new "play strategy".
He added: "We can back the children early so that none of them are left behind. We want to make this country the best place for children to grow up."
Michael Gove, the shadow Children Secretary, said Labour had failed on education. He said: "Children are facing a world which is full of greater possibilities and greater risks than ever before.
"But our children are falling behind other nations. Down from 4th to 14th for science, 7th to 17th for reading, 8th to 24th for maths.
"These failures are happing to children who have been educated under a Labour government."
