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The Tories slashed funding for children by nearly £1billion in real terms under David Cameron and George Osborne.

Sure Start and early years investment fell by nearly £700million – a 44% cut – with one in three centres forced to shut since 2010 when they came into power.

Spending by councils on all children’s services – including those in care – also plunged over the same period by almost a tenth, taking the total to almost £1billion – despite a surge in the numbers of children in need.

The figures are in a Department for Education report which covers the bulk of Mr Cameron’s six years in No10.

(Image: PA)

No new money was given in last month’s Budget to early years or other children’s services. Forecasts predict children’s services face a £2billion black hole by 2020.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “These figures show that the Tories have slashed support for the children who need it the most.

(Image: AFP)

“The next Labour Government will invest £500million in Sure Start services, protecting a service that can transform lives.”

The DoE said its £200million Innovation Programme “is helping develop new and better ways of delivering services”.