HC Deb 18 July 2003 vol 409 cc731-2W
Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free nursery places have been provided in Leicestershire for(a) 4-year-olds and (b) 3-year-olds in each year since 1999–2000. [125232]

Academic year 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01
Number withdrawn (000) 391.3 386.2 377.2 410.8 327.1
Number continuing/completed (000) 2,144.3 2,205.8 2,037.1 2,153.9 1,864.4
Per cent. withdrawn 15.4 14.9 15.6 16.0 14.9
Per cent. retained 84.6 85.1 84.4 84.0 85.1

Note.

  • Students on programmes of less than 12 weeks are excluded from this table
  • 2000/01 figures only Include data from 358 colleges and 183 external institutions
  • 1999/2000 figures only include data from 389 colleges and 202 external institutions
  • 1998/99 figures only include data from 402 colleges and 206 external institutions
  • 1997/98 figures only include data from 416 colleges and 229 external institutions
  • 1996/97 figures only include data from 408 colleges and 260 external institutions

Source:Individualised Student Record

Margaret Hodge

The available information is shown in the table.

Number of free early education places1 that are fully funded taken up by three and four year olds—Leicestershire local education authority area 2000–02
Position in January each year
Number of
3-year-olds 4-year-olds
2000 90 6,900
2001 770 6,600
2002 3,340 6,700
1 A free early education places is defined as a part-time place at a maintained nursery school or primary school or a part-time equivalent place, i.e. five sessions (half days) a week, at a provider other than a maintained nursery or primary school.

We have made the commitment that by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all 3-year-olds whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.

The latest figures on early years provision in England were published by my Department in the Statistical First Release 15/2003 "Provision For Children Under Five Years Of Age In England—January 2003 (Provisional)", copies of which are available from the Library and my Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.