HC Deb 21 December 1967 vol 756 cc475-6W
Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children in England and Wales, respectively, of nursery school age, that is to say above two and under five years of age, receive nursery school education.

Mr. Gordon Walker:

In January, 1967 (counting each part-time attender as half a pupil) the proportion of children aged over two and under five attending maintained nursery schools was 0.9 per cent. in England and 1.4 per cent. in Wales. A further 7.6 per cent. of this age group in England and 17.4 per cent. in Wales were attending maintained primary schools; of these children, over 25 per cent. in England and over 40 per cent. in Wales were in nursery classes. In addition, 1.0 per cent. of the age group in England and Wales together were attending direct grant nursery schools or independent schools; separate figures for the two countries are not readily available.