Nursery Education: Policy (Hansard, 23 March 1988)

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, both demand and provision are discretionary in nursery education and the Government have no plans to alter this. Most local education authorities are gradually increasing the level of nursery education they provide. Currently, 45 per cent. of all 3 and 4 year-olds, some 565,000 children, are in nursery or primary schools, as compared with only 39 per cent. a decade ago.

§ Lord Dormand of Easington
My Lords, does the Minister not agree that nursery education is important for all children and that in some cases it can be critically important? In view of the fact that compulsory provision is a long way off and in view of the fact that the Minister has just said that only 45 per cent. of our children have the benefit of nursery education, will the Government consider introducing an incentive scheme for those LEAs which are keen to expand their present nursery education?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, education for under-5s is not a part of compulsory schooling. LEAs have a power but not a duty to provide it; demand for it is at the discretion of the parents. The Government accept that some pre-school experience is beneficial to under-5s both at the time and later on.

§ Baroness Faithfull
My Lords, does the Minister agree that there is a committee sitting in the House of Commons looking into education of children under 5 and that the Department of Health and Social Security has given money to the National Children's Bureau to look into the same subject?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I think that my noble friend is referring to ESAC, which is about to start a study of education for the under-5s. It has invited the DES to submit a memorandum of evidence. That is in active preparation.

§ Lord Parry
My Lords, does the Minister accept that there is already a very large body of evidence available, taken over the past 25 years, to the effect that the more deprived the environment in which the child is born, the more need there is for nursery education and the less likely there is to be demand 178 from the parent? Do the Government accept the responsibility for doing something about that?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, again I must repeat that education for the under-5s is not a part of compulsory schooling but it is up to the local education authority to decide what it wants to do in particular circumstances.

§ Lord Parry
My Lords, does the Minister accept that it sounds to the House as though he is hiding behind a traditional excuse?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, no. I think that is unreasonable. The Government do not hide behind excuses.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, the Minister says it is up to local education authorities but is he aware that under the proposal of the Government at the moment ILEA will be abolished and this matter will be handed over to the London boroughs, some of which are so incompetent that we shall have no education at all?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I think that is perhaps another Question for another day.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, may I ask the Minister if it is still the Government's intention to fulfil what the Prime Minister expressed as her aim when she was Secretary of State for Education in the White Paper Expansion with Change? She hoped that 90 per cent. of 4 year-olds and 50 per cent of 3 year-olds would enjoy the benefit of nursery education. Is that still the Government's aim?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, this objective, which was adopted in good faith in 1972, has long since been abandoned by successive governments, both Conservative and Labour, in the face of economic restraints.

§ Lord Dormand of Easington
My Lords, I think the Minister will realise that most of us know that nursery provision is not compulsory but my supplementary question was whether, in those circumstances and in view of the Minister having admitted that the Government feel that nursery education is a good thing, the Government are prepared to provide any kind of incentive to help those LEAs which are prepared to help themselves.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, as regards resources that the Government give to the education authorities, they will continue to give the same resources in real terms.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, is the Minister not aware that the Government have frequently stated that the period of economic restraint is over and that we are now in a period of unbounded prosperity?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, if the noble Lord would like to become more involved in this particular 179 point, it might be more appropriate to discuss it when the Education Reform Bill comes before your Lordships' House.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, the noble Earl has failed to answer the specific question put to him by my noble friend Lord Dormand. If he is unable—and the House will understand this —to give a direct answer on funding, would he give the House an undertaking that he will pass this request on to his right honourable friend?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, of course I shall.

§ Baroness Sharples
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that there are a great number of private nursery schools which are contributed to by parents who may not have much money but who do nevertheless contribute? I dare say that these organisations help a great number of small children.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I am grateful for the point made by my noble friend.

§ Lord Glenamara
My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there is a very simple way in which the Government could make an impact on this problem and that is by encouraging local authorities to admit children in the year in which their fifth birthday occurs? That would be better than nothing and, as there are many empty places in primary schools, it would make a big impact on the problem.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I take the point of the noble Lord. The Government have expressed concern that some of the provision may be inappropriate for 4 year-olds and they are watching the situation closely. Shortages of experienced teachers and appropriate equipment are the major constraints.