"Parenting classes can be life-changing because they give parents the skills to manage challenging situations, give their children clear and firm boundaries and help them learn the consequences of their actions. This strengthens families and means children are better behaved, more respectful and can achieve more at school.
"Increasing help, advice and support before a child reaches school age also reduces the likelihood of families needing more expensive support later on. It makes moral, social and economic sense."
In a crowd-pleasing move Ms Teather also announced funding for the pupil premium - a policy devised by the Lib Dems which pays extra cash to schools for each pupil they take from a low-income family - will double to �1.25bn in 2012/13.
The rise is part of the coalition's overall plan to increase the funding pot to �2.5bn by 2014-15.
Critics have claimed it is difficult to assess the impact of the extra cash - �625m in this academic year - because it is not ring-fenced but Ms Teather insisted the Government would be "sharing evidence about what works, and making sure that schools are held to account on the results they achieve".
Ms Teather said: "It is our responsibility to close the gulf in achievement, where the poorest children are almost three times less likely to leave school with five good GCSEs than their richer classmates.
"This extra funding will help tackle inequality and make sure thousands of children get the extra support they need to succeed and reach their potential."
Elizabeth Dole John Edwards Dianne Feinstein Bill Frist Newt Gingrich
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