The First Minister has said the SNP will launch a new summer campaign aimed at winning over No voters to Scottish independence.

Speaking at the SNP's spring conference, she also made a raft of new policy announcements on health, education, welfare and tax ahead of the Holyrood elections.

The conference, held in Glasgow, is the party's largest ever to be held before an election.

The First Minister insisted her party would listen to the concerns of people who voted No in Scotland's referendum on independence in 2014.

She said: "This summer the SNP will embark on a new initiative to build support for independence.

"It will not be an attempt to browbeat anyone. I know that many across Scotland support the union as strongly as we do independence - I respect that.

"But I also know that many wanted to be persuaded in 2014 - but ultimately didn't find our arguments compelling enough.

"So we will listen to what you have to say. We will hear your concerns and address your questions - and in the process, we will be prepared to challenge some of our own answers.

"And, patiently and respectfully, we will seek to convince you that independence really does offer the best future for Scotland."

On the NHS, the First Minister pledged 5 new elective treatment centres and £50m more for cancer treatment.

On education, she pleadged an extension of free school meals to children aged between two and four in nurseries.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said they would raise tax rates to pay for public services.

Setting out her principles on taxation, Ms Sturgeon said: "Firstly, we will never forget that every decision we take on tax has to be paid for by you, the hard working people of this country.

"Secondly, we will not raise the basic rate of income tax. I don't think there's anything left wing about a competition over who can tax ordinary people the most.

"Taxing the lowest paid more doesn't tackle austerity - it simply passes the burden of Tory austerity to the shoulders of those who can least afford it and that is not fair.

"So it would be wrong at this time to raise taxes on the lower paid."

She said that over the five years of the next parliamentary term, an extra £750m would be spent in a bid to cut the attainment gap in Scotland's schools.

This includes £100m a year which would be raised by planned council tax reforms, that would see Scots in larger homes pay more - with this cash going "direct to head teachers", Ms Sturgeon confirmed.

She said: "It will mean they can invest in extra teachers, classroom assistants, equipment or additional learning support."

Responding to the speech, Scottish Labour's deputy leader Alex Rowley said: "After ten years of waiting for the SNP Government to deliver bold change, this was a timid speech from the First Minister.

"Nicola Sturgeon claims to support fairer taxes and more investment in education, yet the SNP Government has cut 10% from the education and training budget since 2007.

"That's why there are 4,000 fewer teachers in our classrooms, 152,000 fewer college students and a gap between the richest and the rest in our schools that remains as stubborn as ever.

"We got very little detail from Nicola Sturgeon on the central question of this election - how will the new tax powers be used to stop more cuts?"

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the First Minister should respect the outcome of the independence referendum.

She said: "It's clear the SNP - from top to bottom - just isn't prepared to let this go.

"People voted decisively to remain part of the UK and it's time Nicola Sturgeon respected it.

"This shows again why having a strong, pro-UK opposition in Holyrood is so critical to Scotland's constitutional future.

"Only the Scottish Conservatives continue to stand 100% for Scotland's place in the UK."