MPs have called on the government to develop a Parents' Charter as part of a review of provisions for children aged under five.

The Education select committee report "Early years", released on Thursday, has also recommended that there should be "substantially increased government support and investment" in initiatives like the Sure Start and Early Excellence centres. The report recommends that the ratio of adult to children should be no more than one to 15 and that more male teachers should be employed.

The MPs also call for children from deprived urban areas to be given more experience of life outdoors through activities such as visits to urban farms, woodland and the seaside.