High quality education for our children is essential -
for the sake of our society,
for the sake of our economy
and for the sake of each individual's personal fulfillment.
It is the key to so many of the opportunities that our society offers.
And it is the best investment that our generation can make on behalf of the next.
The more time a teacher can spend with a child, the better the chances for that child.
The Liberal Democrats will fund 21,000 new primary schools teachers;
teachers who can bring out the best in them;
inspiring our children to learn and to be ambitious.
This will mean lower class sizes for infants - with an average of only 20 pupils per teacher - down from 25.
And lower class sizes for juniors - with an average of 25 pupils per teacher - down from 27.
It will mean smaller groups for whole class work, and more one-on-one time for teachers and classroom assistants with their pupils.
The benefits of improving classroom conditions for our children at this formative age are far reaching.
Every parent of young children wishes they could spend more one-to-one time with them. That's sometimes difficult in today's hectic lives.
So giving teachers more time to spend with every child will help give children the best start in life;
so that they can bring out the best in them -
so they can inspire our children to learn and to be ambitious.
Expert opinion and common sense agree that children well taught and well cared-for in their early years have a far better chance of living fulfilled and rewarding lives.
Children who are engaged by learning from the start are more likely to be confident and successful students.
This in turn means they are less likely to play up in the classroom or play truant on the streets.
Research suggests that children in smaller classes do better in maths and literacy in their first year of school.
And it has the most positive impact on the kids who struggle most - those who have the most ground to make up as they start formal schooling.
It is self-evident that these benefits will continue to bear fruit way beyond primary school years.
And for teachers, smaller class sizes reduce the burden of paper work and form filling so that they can concentrate more on doing the work they are trained for and enjoy - interaction with their pupils.
As a society, Britain cannot afford to postpone investing in our children.
Labour's £1.5bn Child Trust Fund scheme locks up much needed resources.
It is expensive, unnecessary and delivers few real benefits.
What good does it do children now to lock this money away for 18 years, when it can be invested now in helping to give every child the best start we can? I know which capital investment is going to deliver more to the taxpayer and do more to change children's futures whatever the circumstances of their families.
The Liberal Democrats will invest for our children's future now, not lock money away.
21,000 new primary school teachers to reduce class sizes and give our children the best start.
That is a real alternative at this election.
ENDS
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