HC Deb 08 March 1979 vol 963 cc735-6W
Mr. Tilley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of nursery school places to children under five years in the Lambeth partnership area; and how this will be improved by current plans.

Miss Margaret Jackson

I understand from the ILEA that there are at present 1,030 full-time equivalent places in nursery schools and classes in the Lambeth partnership area. This compares with a 3- and 4-year-old population of approximately 5,400. This figure is based on the 1976 census figures, which are the latest available.

There are plans for starts to be made on nine new nursery class projects in the building years 1978–82. These will provide a total of 260 additional full-time equivalent places. Eight of the projects are programmed under the inner cities partnership scheme. The final project is programmed under my Department's nursery education building programme.

A further bid for resources for additional nursery provision has been submitted under the partnership programme for the building year 1982–83.