HC Deb 12 December 1978 vol 960 c109W
29. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children below the statutory school age are in either part- or wholetime attendance at nursery schools or in similar establishments:and how this compares with the position five years ago.

Miss Margaret Jackson:

In January 1978 the number of children under five in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes of primary schools in England was 201,337; in addition, there were 231,807 children under five in ordinary classes in primary schools. The corresponding figures for 1973 were 110,315 and 245,495 respectively.