§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what additional resources were allocated to maintained nursery schools as part of the Chancellor's Budget; in which Government publication reference to these additional resources is to be found; and by what means the information was communicated to maintained nursery school headteachers and governors; [119193]
(2) what additional resources have been allocated to those early years educational providers that form part of local education authorities' Early Years Childcare and Education Development Partnerships to provide early years places for all four year olds, as a result of the recent Budget announcements. [119195]
§ Mr. Blunkett[holding answer 14 April 2000]: I have written to the headteachers of all schools in England who will benefit from the extra £290 million we are making available following the Budget. This includes maintained nursery and primary schools. The money is part of a real terms increase of over 10 per cent. this year. Copies of the letters, including those sent to nursery schools, are being placed in the Library. The final allocations are subject to approval of a special grant report which was laid before Parliament on 6 April and is being debated on 17 April. No additional resources have been allocated directly to Early Years, Childcare and Education Development Partnerships. I have, however, made an additional £0.5 million available for pre-schools' groups and playgroups facing financial difficulties. This follows a similar scheme last year, and will give groups time in which to consider their longer term plans.
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§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what definition of nursery places is used by his Department in providing funding for nursery places for four-year-olds. [119492]
§ Ms HodgeA nursery education place consists of five 2½ hour sessions per week over three terms of 11 weeks each.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Early Excellence centres have been set up in the last three years; and at what cost. [119493]
§ Ms HodgeWe have designated 29 Early Excellence Centres in the last three years. Specific DfEE funding of £6 million has been made available during that period.