§ Mrs. DeanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free places were available for(a) three-year olds and (b) four-year olds in the Burton constituency in each of the last seven years. [161841]
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§ 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 Staffordshire local education authority area are shown in the table.
The latest figures on provision for 3 and 4 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/.
We have made the commitment that by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three year olds in England whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.
Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by three and four year old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers Staffordshire Local Education Authority area from 1997–2003 Position in January each year 3 year-olds 4 year-olds 1997 3,500 9,600 1998 2,700 9,700 1999 2,700 9,500 2000 2,600 9,400 2001 3,000 9,200 2002 4,300 9,100 2003 5,800 9,200 1 Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4 year old children. 2 A free nursery education place comprises 5, two and ½ hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.