§ Mr. A. Allenasked the Minister of Education how many nursery, babies' classes and classes for children of the age of four have been discontinued to make room for children of statutory school age; and how many children of 60W under five years of age have been displaced.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe number of classes containing children entirely under five in maintained and assisted primary schools (other than nursery schools) fell from 3,302 in January, 1947, to 3,239 in January, 1948. The total number of children under five in these schools fell from 184,700 to 179,217 during the same period.
§ Mr. Piratinasked the Minister of Education when he expects to be able to provide figures showing the number of five-year-olds entering school at the beginning of the present school year.
§ Mr. TomlinsonLocal education authorities are not asked to submit figures of the number of children entering school at the beginning of the school year, but an estimate of the number can be made from the age analysis of children in school in January of each year. This analysis of the 1949 figures is expected to be completed by the end of June.
§ Mr. Piratinasked the Minister of Education what proportion of the £29 million value of work under construction on 31st December, 1948, was to accommodate additional children expected in infant schools in 1949.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI regret that this information is not available. Many building projects for new schools or classrooms—both primary and secondary—will directly or indirectly provide additional accommodation for infants.