HC Deb 28 June 1972 vol 839 cc354-9W
Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on the basis of applications made to him, what future expansion is planned for pre-school education; what type of provision is planned; and in what education authority areas.

Authority Project Places provided (on a full-time basis)
Ayrshire Nursery School, Kilmarnock 60
Dunbartonshire Nursery School, Meiklehill, Kirkintilloch 60
Dunbartonshire Nursery School, Ladyton Bonhill 60
Dundee Nursery School, Fintrie 80
Dundee Nursery School, Kirkton 80
Dundee Nursery Classes—Dens Road Primary School 60
Fife Nursery School Unit (combined with a day nursery) 40
Fife Nursery Class, Methil (part of combined day nursery/community/ nursery class project—Sailors'Rest) 20
Edinburgh Nursery School, Craigmillar Glasgow 60
Glasgow Nursery Classes, St. George's School 80
Glasgow Nursery Classes, Lambhill 80
Glasgow Nursery Classes, Easterhouse 80
Glasgow Nursery Classes, Trondra Place 80
Glasgow Nursery Classes, Glenlora 80
Glasgow Nursery Classes, Milton Bank 80
Renfrewshire Nursery School, Barrhead 60
Renfrewshire Nursery School, Port Glasgow 60

A further eight nursery projects in Glasgow, four in Edinburgh, one in Ayrshire and two in Dunbartonshire are under consideration.

Education authorities do not require my approval to adapt existing accommodation for nursery class use, provided the cost can be contained within the minor works programmes.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated population of children of three years and four years of age in Scotland; and what percentage of these groups is receiving preschool education, excluding the rising fives who are in primary school.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

At January, 1971, it is estimated that there were 91,200 three-year-old and 90,600 four-year-old children in Scotland, 4.2 per cent. of the three-year-olds and 8.9 per cent. of the four-year-olds receiving nursery education in education authority and grant-aided schools.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the school population in separate nursery schools and nursery classes attached to primary schools; what is the pupil/teacher ratio; and if he will give the figures for each education authority area.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

At January, 1971, there were 12,539 children attend-

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The following projects have been approved under the urban programme during the past 12 months.

ing education authority and grant-aided schools and classes. The pupil/teacher ratio—full-time and equivalent puipls to full-time and equivalent teachers—was 36.3:1. Information by education authority area is given below.

Education Authority Nursery Population Pupil/Teacher ratio (full-time and equivalent pupils to full-time and equivalent teachers)*
Cities
Aberdeen 1,010 23.4:1
Dundee 742 20.9:1
Edinburgh 2,969 35.8:1
Glasgow 4,133 46.1:1
Counties
Aberdeen 53 53.0:1
Ayr 614 57.4:1
Banff 22 22.0:1
Clackmannan 50 26.0:1
Dumfries 82 41.0:1
Dunbarton 83 44.5:1
Fife 1,548 43.1:1
Lanark 139 46.3:1
Moray and Nairn 80 40.0:1
Perth and Kinross 86 73.0:1
Renfrew 439 26.8:1
Stirling 142 29.7:1
West Lothian 347 29.9:1
Total (Scotland) 12,539 36.3:1
* Nursery Schools and classes are staffed by teachers and Nursery nurses: the figures given are for teachers only.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many separate nursery schools there are in Scotland administered by the local authorities; and if he will identify them in each education authority area.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

At January, 1972, 119 in the following education authority areas:

Education Authority Nursery Schools
Cities
Aberdeen 4
Dundee 9
Edinburgh 16
Glasgow 56
Counties
Aberdeen 1
Ayr 7
Banff 1
Clackmannan 1
Dumfries 2
Dunbarton 5
Fife 7
Lanark 2
Moray and Nairn 1
Perth and Kinross 1
Renfrew 3
Stirling 1
West Lothian 2
119

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many under fives there are in classes at primary schools; and if he will identify them in each education authority area.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

At January, 1971, there were 2,051 children under five in classes at education authority and grant-aided primary schools. The following table gives the numbers by each education authority area.

Education Authority Children under five in Primary Clauses
Cities
Aberdeen 28 (including 4 at grant-aided schools)
Dundee 23 (including 3 at grant-aided schools)
Edinburgh 30
Glasgow 46 (including 2 at grant-aided schools)
Counties
Aberdeen 57
Angus 2
Argyll 7
Ayr 186
Banff 26
Berwick 4
Bute 29
Caithness 33
Clackmannan 6 (including 3 at grant-aided schools)
Dunfries 4
Dunbarton 538 (including 7 at grant-aided schools)
East Lothian 32
Fife 140
Inverness 35
Kincardine 2
Kirkcudbright
Lanark 12
Midlothian 1
Moray and Nairn 95
Orkney 1
Peebles 14
Perth and Kinross 5
Renfrew 482 (including 7 at grant-aided schools)
Ross and Cromarty 35
Roxburgh 5
Selkirk 1
Stirling 16
Sutherland 17
West Lothian 39
Wigtown 92
Zetland 8
2,051 (including 26 at grant-aided schools)

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursery classes there are in Scotland attached to primary schools; and of he will identify them in each education authority area.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

At January, 1972, 113 nursery classes were attached to education authority and grant-aided primary schools, in the following education authority areas:

Education Authority Nursery Classes
Cities
Aberdeen 21 (including classes at 2 grant-aided schools)
Dundee 6 (including classes attached to one grant-aided school)
Edinburgh 29
Glasgow 2
Counties
Ayr 4
Banff 2
Clackmannan 1
Dunbarton 1
File 26
Lanark 1
Peebles 1
Perth and Kinross 1
Renfrew 7
Selkirk 1
Stirling 4
West Lothian 6
113

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made on the number of pre-school playgroups in Scotland; how many children attend such groups; and if he will identify them in education authority areas.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

At the end of 1970 there were 957 playgroups attended by about 18,000 children. The number of playgroups in each area was as follows:

County
Aberdeen and Kincardine* 53
Angus 19
Argyll 12
Ayr 89
Banff 8
Berwick 3
Bute 4
Caithness 4
Clackmannan 7
Dumfries 14
Dunbarton 53
East Lothian 17
Fife 50
Inverness 20
Kirkcudbright 3
Lanark 70
Midlothian 56
Moray and Nairn 12
Orkney 5
Peebles 7
Perth and Kinross 24
Renfrew 61
Ross and Cromarty 12
Roxburgh 5
Selkirk 8
Stirling 60
Sutherland 2
West Lothian 15
Wigtown 4
Zetland 5
County of City
Aberdeen Burgh 41
Dundee
Edinburgh 148
Glasgow 66
* Returns are made by counties and large burghs which are responsible under the Social Work (Scotland) Act, 1968, for the registration of playgroups. Aberdeen and Kincardine have a joint social work committee and separate figures for the two county areas are not available.