§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places under the National Childcare Strategy Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership have been provided in the Colchester constituency; what plans he has to extend the scheme in the Colchester constituency; and if he will make a statement. [125074]
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§ Ms HodgeEssex Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership reported that there were 20 new out of school child care places created in the Colchester constituency during 1999–2000. The Partnership also reported that 215 new childminder places were created in the Colchester borough during 1999–2000. Childminder places are not broken down to constituency level.
The Essex Early Years Development and Childcare Plan includes plans to create a total of 2,650 new child care places across the county in 2000–01. The Plan sets out arrangements for involving Area Partnerships which cover district and borough council areas in Essex in planning places at a local level. (The North East Essex Area Partnership covers Colchester and Tendring).