Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is available to support the training of play workers in after-school clubs. [128745]
§ Ms HodgeIt is not possible to identify funding which is specifically available for the training of play workers. However, we have allocated £18 million in England to Training and Enterprise Councils between 1998–99 and 2000–01 to support the training needs of the child care workforce, including playworkers. Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships also spend a proportion of their budget on training. Further Education Colleges also spent £93.32 million on child care related training in 1998–99. This is in addition to the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) budget for the UK of £220 million from 1999–2003 to fund a significant expansion in out of school provision. Training is an acceptable element in bids made to NOF for support under the programme.