The new Education Secretary is warning nurseries they could lose their funding if they teach creationism as scientific fact.
Friday's announcement comes in the wake of the "Trojan Horse" plot by Islamist radicals to take over state schools in Birmingham.
Providers of early years education will be now expected to teach children about fundamental British values in an age-appropriate way, according to the Department for Education.
The decision is designed to bring early years settings into line with similar tough measures in schools. As part of this, funding will also be withheld from establishments that teach creationism as scientific fact.
However, the Association of Christian Teachers has described the move as a step too far, speaking on Premier's 'News Hour', Chief Executive of ACT, Clive Ireson said: "from a Christian point of view they're aren't nurseries; of very many of them that would be teaching it as a scientific fact during their science curriculam, they'll be teaching it during their RE curriculam areas and those bible stories like creationism need to be taught during that time".
For children in the early years, the DfE said the new measures will be about learning right from wrong; learning to take turns and share; and challenging negative attitudes and stereotypes. Ofsted will be required to inspect early years providers against this criteria.
Clive Ireson, Association of Christian Teachers: