Primary schools 'to open longer'

Children could spend longer at school

The government is thinking of opening primary schools in England for up to 10 hours a day, Education Secretary Charles Clarke has said.

A £3bn-a-year plan to offer working parents childcare from 8am to 6pm is being considered, several newspapers say, quoting "Whitehall sources".

Low-paid parents would get subsidised places and others would pay a "top-up fee", the Daily Express said.

Mr Clarke said he was discussing ideas "in detail" with the chancellor.

'True and false'

Many schools already offer breakfast and after-school clubs.

New opening hours would enable parents to put in a nine to five working day, plus commuting time, according to the Mirror.

The typical cost of a full-time place with a registered childminder is now more than £120 a week.

Mr Clarke told the BBC it was true the government was looking at how to get better provision for under-fives across the country.

Extending primary school hours was just one way of doing that. However, the press reports had both "true and false" elements.

There were "a lot of difficulties and sensitivities", especially to do with asking parents to pay, and nothing was being announced yet.

Mr Clarke added: "We have the aspiration to ensure that there is a proper child service in every part of the country."

A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "There are no plans to make every primary school do this [open from 8am to 6pm].

"It would not be appropriate for every primary but where head teachers and their local communities want to do so then they are able to do so."