§ Stephen HesfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of three and four year-olds are receiving nursery or full time education. [135008]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 30 October 2003]: Around 96 per cent. of the three and four-year-old population in England receives funded early years education provided by a maintained school, a private and voluntary provider or an independent school in January 2003.
699WWe have made the commitment that by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three-year-olds whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place. Around 88 per cent. of three-year-olds are now benefiting from free early education.
The latest figures on early years provision in England were published by the 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 the Department's website, www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.