The government wants every child in the country to have access to an "extended school" open between 8.00am and 6.00pm by the end of the decade.

The proposal will be contained in its long-awaited national childcare strategy which is unveiled today.

A detailed "prospectus" will be published in January, detailing how the schools will work and giving examples of existing practice.

Meanwhile the National Consumer Council has warned that there is "huge potential" for confusion over the chancellor's child trust fund policy.