§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many nursery places there were in St. Helens in each year from 1997 to 2004. [184624]
§ Margaret HodgeThe information is not available in the form requested.
Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in St. Helens local education authority area are shown in the table.
Number of free nursery education places1, 2 taken up by three and four-year-old children in St. Helens local education authority area 1997–2003 Position in January each year Number 1997 3,300 1998 3,200 1999 3,200 2000 3,600 2001 3,700 2002 3,900 2003 3,900 1Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-old children. 2 A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks. The latest figures on provision for three and four year olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many St. Helens families have been involved in Sure Start schemes. [184625]
§ Margaret HodgeAround 2,100 families were seen by the five Sure Start local programmes in the St. Helens local authority area in 2003–04. We expect around 600 families to use the nine neighbourhood nurseries in the area. They offer 370 child care places and we are expecting some 900 children to use these.