§ 6. Mr. Win Griffiths (Bridgend)What progress has been made in the provision of nursery and full-time education for three to four-year-olds. [135237]
§ The Minister for Children (Margaret Hodge)Since 1998 all four-year-olds in England have been entitled to free part-time nursery education places. We are on course to deliver a free part-time nursery education place for every three-year-old whose parents want one by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target.
§ Mr. GriffithsI thank my right hon. Friend for that very encouraging news about the provision of places in nursery and full-time education for three to four-year-olds, but what else are the Government doing to provide support services in before and after-school provision to enable the parents of those children—particularly single mothers—to play a full part in the economy?
§ Margaret HodgeI acknowledge my hon. Friend's role in ensuring that we implemented our manifesto commitment to provide nursery education for all three to four-year-olds. He worked hard to achieve that, so I hope that he takes the same satisfaction as I do from the vision being translated into reality. Like him, I accept that, because of modern life and an increasing number of families having both parents at work, we must ensure that care is wrapped around nursery education to meet the needs of families and working parents. Through our children's centre programme, the funding that we are providing for out-of-school clubs and a variety of other initiatives, we are trying to ensure a safe environment in which children can enjoy themselves, further their skills and develop their potential.