Primary schools are being asked to look after two-year-olds in on-site nurseries in an effort to ease the shortage of childcare in the UK.

Local authorities will receive a letter from education minister Liz Truss, who wants to make school sites a suitable place for childcare.

Ministers are also in the process of making the required legislative changes to allow this to happen and ease some population pressures.

Local authorities are currently trying to find childcare opportunities for 130,000 more disadvantaged two-year-olds, but they still need to find tens of thousands of extra places to make the government's target - making spots available in schools could alleviate some of the pressure.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mrs Truss said the childcare offered by schools would be "age-appropriate".

She stated: "What you are doing with two-year-olds in terms of singing, reading stories, playing with paint is very different from what you do with a seven-year-old.

"If you have a really high-quality school nursery, children who are behind can catch up with their peers by the time they start school."

Chief executive of 4Children Anne Longfield said the government's plans will bring more flexibility, which is welcome, but if the scheme is to be successful it will need to recognise that childcare for two-year-olds is very different from the educational services schools normally provide and specialist support will be required.

The Department for Education has begun a pilot scheme in 49 primary schools, each of which has been given a £10,000 grant to identify ways in which childcare and education for the toddlers can best be provided.

How will this affect the public perception of people in primary teaching jobs? Will a distinction between normal school activities be made? At a time when respect in the classroom is scarce, will people equate the teaching profession to the role of a childminder?

Posted by Darryl Mydat?