Child poverty is more than an abstract problem to me. It’s something I know all too much about.

Poverty isn’t just a financial issue, though. Growing up without love, without being cared for, might be the worst type of poverty. Many parents know that hugging your children – telling them how amazing they are – is so important.

Some parents, through no fault of their own, don’t realise this. My mum was one of those who didn’t realise, and I almost was too. It wasn’t because she didn’t love me, or my brother and sister, it’s because she didn’t know how to. She hadn’t been loved when she was a child, and that absence had stayed with her. Sometimes we forget that no one is born with parenting skills.

What broke that cycle for me was my local Sure Start centre. No one was better than me at changing nappies, or providing for my baby, but no one told me just how important emotional development was for children. I learnt that there: my parenting course made me realise that the love you give to children stays with them for their entire life. Since then I’ve wrapped my other children, and now my grandchild, in the love they deserve.

It’s no exaggeration to say that it changed everything for me.

Pictures of the first children taken into care Show all 30 1 /30 Pictures of the first children taken into care Pictures of the first children taken into care Edward Taylor (left) Born around 1857, admitted to Bonner Road in 1871. Father Charles Taylor was a fish porter but died in October 1870 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Thomas Shield Born 23 October 1861, admitted to Bonner Road in 1871. Father is a tobacco pipe maker, mother is a needlewoman Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Mary Ann Annett Born 2 December 1863. Admitted to Bonner Road in London in 1871. Father William Sale was a silk dyer who left for America Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Edward Maltby Thirteen years old when admitted, father and mother dead. Left in the charge of a stepmother who constantly ill-treated him. He had slept on the streets for several nights. Went to Canada 15 May 1873 to be employed in the Printing Office and board with Bob Self. Bonner Road, London - 1870 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Chirs Barned (L) related to George Oliver George Oliver was the first boy to be taken into care by the charity at their first home in Lambeth. He is also the great-great grandfather of Chris Barned from East London Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Jan Twynam (L) related to Alice Valentine Alice Valentine stayed in care homes in London and Yorkshire and she the great-great aunt of Jan Twynam from Chichester Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Lance Richardson (L) related to Emmie Rhymes 60-year-old Lance Richardson was pleased to find that he is the grandnephew of Emmie Rhymes who was admitted to the Princess Alice Orphanage in Warwickshire in 1898 after the death of her parents Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Annie Augusta Barfield Admitted to Bonner Road in London on 8 June 1871, aged 1 year Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Agatha Johnstone, Ivy Keeping, Nora Blake Cardiff - 1912-1920 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Billy Buster Harpenden, Hertfordshire - 1918 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Master Charlie Woodwitt Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire - 1904 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Mary Anne Leigh Bonner Road, London - 1871-1880 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Sister Theta Stormer with children Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Harpenden, Hertfordshire - 1910-1920 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire - 1900-1910 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire - 1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Bonner Road, London - 1880-1890 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Bonner Road Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1903 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1882-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Birmingham - 1904-1909 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Alverstoke, Hampshire - 1901 Action for Children Pictures of the first children taken into care Alverstoke, Hampshire - 1869-1900 Action for Children

I was lucky, though, to have a Labour government on my side; one that understood that early years support was a vital part of education policy. However, a new generation of children have grown up under a Tory government that hasn’t fought for them.

What the Conservatives (and the Liberal Democrats) have done to early years education is shocking. When Labour left Downing Street in 2010, there were more than 3,500 Sure Start centres in the country. In the last nine years, however, more than 1,000 centres have been closed or hollowed out – including the one that changed my life. It’s an injustice.

In the last election we sought to right this wrong, and we’re going further this time. We’re increasing our investment in early years to a billion pounds – reversing Tory cuts and establishing a new generation of Sure Start centres: Sure Start Plus.

This new programme will fully integrate education, health and family support to deliver essential services to the youngest children and their parents. And it’ll be delivered in an integrated service that nurtures a generation of children, especially those in the most disadvantaged areas.

As well as reviving the vital service of Sure Start, with £1bn of new investment, we will radically expand early years education.

Under the Tories the most disadvantaged three and four-year-olds, whose parents are unemployed, are locked out of 30 hours of free childcare a week, which only applies to children of working parents. The maximum childcare two-year-olds are entitled to is 15 hours per week.

Under Labour this will change. We will give 30 hours of free early years education a week to every child aged two to four.

Not only will this save parents thousands of pounds a year, it will transform the life chances of a generation of children. Early years education sets the path for the rest of a child’s time in school; if they fall behind before they get to school they will likely never catch up. This investment will mean that no child falls behind simply because of their background.

For us, early years is the foundation of both a world-class education system and a moral society. We can’t have children growing up feeling unloved – the price is too high for that. Our new Sure Start Plus will make every child feel valued.