§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in order to assist local education authorities readily to identify disadvantaged children for the purpose of fulfilling paragraphs 9 to 11 of Circular No. 2/73 Nursery Education, she will define more precisely the phrase in paragraph 9 about children from homes which are culturally and economically deprived.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe phrase describes children from impoverished or inadequate homes who lack opportunities to develop an early mastery of language and other basic skills. Head teachers and local education authorities are in the best position to identify disadvantaged children within their own areas and I do not propose to issue detailed guidance on this subject.