Liberal Democrat manifesto: 11 key policies explained

Giving a better chance to disadvantaged pupils and students in England is the core theme of Lib Dem promises on education. In schools, this includes a tutoring guarantee for children from low-income families who need extra help, and tripling the early years pupil premium – to £1,000 – to front-load support.

There is a bold, and potentially expensive, promise to increase school and college funding for each pupil above inflation every year, following 14 years in which it has stagnated in real terms. A young person’s premium would target disadvantaged 16- to 18-year-olds.

Universities will welcome a review of their funding, although it pushes the issue down the road. Tuition fees in England became toxic for the party after it broke a promise and voted through increased fees of £9,000. For students from low income families there is a promise to bring back maintenance grants, which were scrapped in favour of loans in 2016. This will be welcomed as the loans have not kept up with rising prices, but it is also extra public spending.

Education is devolved so these policies would only apply in England