HC Deb 10 January 2002 vol 377 cc950-1W
14. Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement about nursery provision. [23845]

Margaret Hodge

Since September 1998, all four-year-olds have been able to access a free early education place.

We have increased the percentage of three-year-olds able to access free places from 34 per cent. in 1997 to 62 per cent. in 2001. From September 2004 all three-year-olds will have access to a free early education place.

The funding available for early education will be increased from £1 billion in 1996–97 to £2 billion in 2003–04.

27. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children aged between three and five years are in full-time nursery education. [23861]

Margaret Hodge

My Department estimates that eight per cent. of three and four-year-old children were in full-time nursery education1 in England in January 2001.

However, the vast majority of children engage in nursery education on a part-time basis. If these children are included, my Department estimates that two in three children aged three and four are in either full or part-time nursery education. Of these, 32 per cent. of the population attended private and voluntary providers, four per cent. attended independent schools, 30 per cent. attended maintained nursery schools or nursery classes within maintained primary schools and less than 0.5 per cent, special schools.

We are committed to guaranteeing free part-time places for all four-year-olds whose parents want one and by September 2004 free part-time places for all three-year-olds.

Children in nursery education comprise those educated in schools and private and voluntary early years settings, but does not include children educated in infant classes in maintained primary schools.