Education secretary Ruth Kelly says at least 1,100 new childrens' centres will be on stream by end of next year but they are "not, as sometimes painted, about giving working parents somewhere to dump their kids".

Talking to the Mirror, Kelly said: "It's about giving all parents a choice and all children - whether their parents are working or not - the opportunity of high-quality nursery care and education.

She added: "Most parents who don't work want to take up this opportunity too."