Labour veteran Harriet Harman makes Norwich school visit

The longest-serving woman MP in the House of Commons joined Alice Macdonald, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Norwich North, in a visit to Magdalen Gates Primary School and Nursery.

The visit of the former Labour acting leader came as a new report by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned the government's expansion of funded childcare for working parents in England could affect the quality of provision or places for young children.

Former minister for women Ms Harman, who spoke to pupils, teachers, parents and governors at the Bull Close Road school, said: "Childcare is a major headache and financial drain for far too many families. Affordable, high-quality and accessible childcare is essential, not just because it enables parents to work, but because it gives every child a fair start in life."

Former Labour acting leader Harriet Harman joined her party's prospective parliamentary candidate Alice Macdonald in a visit to Magdalen Gates Primary School and Nursery (Image: Labour Party)

Ms Harman, who is standing down at the next election after first entering Parliament in 1982, said: "A functioning childcare system is as important as the rails and the roads which take us to work. The next Labour government will once again make childcare our priority."

As part of a staggered childcare rollout, working parents of two-year-olds have been able to access 15 hours of funded childcare this month.

That will be extended to working parents of all children older than nine months from September, before the full rollout of 30 hours a week to all eligible families next year.

But the NAO warned it could “impact the quality of provision or places for vulnerable children", with concerns a rapid growth in places may impact quality or displace children who are “more challenging or costly to support".

A Department for Education spokesperson said it had "taken decisive steps to prepare the sector for the next phases".

Alice Macdonald (Image: Alice Macdonald)

Ms Macdonald is hoping to win Norwich North for Labour, with Conservative MP Chloe Smith, who has held the seat since 2009, stepping down.

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith (Image: PA)

Also standing are Charlotte Salomon (Conservatives), Ben Price (Green) and Nick Taylor (Reform UK).