§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of 5-year-olds currently receiving part-time education; and if he will list the numbers of local educational authorities unable to provide full-time education.
§ Miss Joan LestorVery few if any 5-year-olds receive part-time education. Parents are under a general duty, enforceable by local education authorities, to ensure that their children between 5 and 16 receive full-time education, and exceptions are permitted only in extraordinary circumstances. As to the second part of the Question, no local education authority is unable to provide full-time education for its 5-year-olds.