§ Captain Blackburnasked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to ensure the permanent provision of an adequate number of nursery schools throughout the country.
§ Miss WilkinsonUnder Section 8 of the Education Act, 1944, it is the duty of every local education authority to secure that there shall be available for their area sufficient primary and secondary schools, and in fulfilling this duty they must in particular have regard to the need for nursery schools, or where the authority consider these to be inexpedient, nursery classes. To this end, authorities are required by Section 11 of the Act to estimate the immediate and prospective needs of their areas, and to submit for my approval by 1st April next (or such later date as may be allowed in any particular case) a development plan showing how they propose to secure that there shall be a sufficient number of schools, including the provision needed for children under five.