Sure Start centres to help deprived children would be expanded again under a Labour government, shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has pledged.
He said the party, which launched Sure Start in 1998, would double the number of childcare places English centres provide to 118,000.
It would reimpose a requirement on councils to provide childcare via Sure Start, reversing a coalition decision.
The Conservatives said Labour was making unfunded spending commitments.
'Family hubs'Sure Start was set up by the Labour government to give parents of pre-school children aged under five family and health advice.
Labour said its plans would stop the closure of the centres which has taken place under the coalition, and charities and local providers would be invited to use the sites.
"This will make the best use of these public buildings, re-establishing them as family hubs in the community and reaching more families than ever before," it said.
Mr Hunt added: "Sure Start was one of the greatest achievements of the last Labour government but, under the Tories, there are hundreds fewer while others have reduced services and opening hours.
He said the country would not succeed unless every child had a decent start in life, unless parents could get back to work, and unless resources allowed Sure Start centres remain open and active.
According to Labour there are 720 fewer Sure Start centres than in 2010, while many more are running reduced services.
Figures disputedThe requirement on centres in disadvantaged areas to offer childcare was removed by the government in 2010.
Research published this month from the London School of Economics and the universities of Manchester and York found real spending per child on early education and childcare and Sure Start services fell by a quarter between 2009-10 and 2012-13.
Anne Longfield, chief executive of the 4Children charity, said: "There is a well-recognised shortage of high quality childcare places in areas of disadvantage which children's centres are clearly able to respond to.
"We urge local authorities to examine the potential for more childcare places in children's centres and work with partners to deliver them."
The Conservative Party disputed the figures, saying there had been 45 "outright closures" of centres, with managements being merged in other cases, and said funding had been maintained.
A spokesman said: "Once again Labour are shaking the magic money tree to pay for unfunded spending commitments. That's exactly how Labour got us into a mess in the first place.
"Hardworking people will pay the price for Ed Miliband's chaotic ill-discipline through higher taxes, more borrowing and more debt."
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