But the Local Government Association's (LGA) David Simmonds said councils did not have any responsibility to actually provide childcare.

BBC: Adult plays with a toddler

The LGA's David Simmonds said the current system was "simply not being effective".

BBC: Councils 'could cut youth unemployment by 20%'

David Simmonds of the Local Government Association said councils were facing "unprecedented pressures in tackling the desperate shortage" of new school places.

BBC: Education & Family

David Simmonds, from the Local Government Association, said he was pleased the government was acknowledging the pressures councils were facing in providing school places.

BBC: School funding for councils announced

David Simmonds, representing the Local Government Association, cautioned that local authorities had diminishing amounts of direct control over schools - because of central government directives and targets and the shift towards academies.

BBC: Ofsted warns on 'unacceptable' gaps in school standards

Chairman of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board Councillor David Simmonds acknowledged there was a variation in performance across councils and recognise that at times the system has been risk averse.

BBC: Councils named and shamed over slow adoptions

Chairman of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, David Simmonds, said figures show councils had twice the rate of success of independent adoption agencies and removing them from the process should only be considered as a very last resort.

BBC: Adoption: Councils could lose powers, says government

On Monday, highlights for Britain include Pearson in the individual freestyle test, Simmonds back in the pool in the 200m, David Weir on the track in the 1500m and John Stubbs defending his archery title.

BBC: Paralympics taken to UK's heart, Locog says