Free nursery care for three year olds has made little or no improvement in primary school exam results, a nine-year study has revealed as academics say the Labour policy has had ‘no impact’.

It was first announced in 1998 as part of the National Childcare Strategy, championed by Margaret Hodge, and rolled out in 2000 with an initial 12.5 free hours per child.

Labour’s plan to extend this to 15 hours was implemented by the Coalition in September 2010 and this Conservative government has made a pledge to double the number of hours of free childcare for three year olds.