HC Deb 21 June 1988 vol 135 cc522-3W
26. Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department plans to commission or undertake any survey, review or inquiry into the quality and standard of educational provision for children under five in reception classes in primary schools.

Mr. Dunn

The Government believe, and have on various occasions publicly expressed the view, that provision for four-year-olds in reception classes should be appropriate to their stage of development. While no formal investigation is planned, my Department and Her Majesty's Inspectors are monitoring the situation closely. The Department will, from next year, include in the annual statistical return submitted by schools additional questions on admission policies for four-year-olds. M y right hon. Friend believes the availability of experienced teachers to be an important qualitative factor, and he has proposed the inclusion in the LEA training grants scheme for 1989–90 of an appropriate national priority area.

35. Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action his Department has taken or is planning to take to ensure that local education authorities implement DES circular 2/73 recommendations on hours of attendance, staffing, and so on, for children under five years in reception classes in primary schools.

Mr. Dunn

The Government have no plans to require local education authorities to implement the guidelines in circular 2/73, whose detailed recommendations have been largely overtaken by events.

41. Mrs. Llin Golding

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will outline his Department's strategy for improving the provision of education for children under five years.

63. Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures his Department is taking to encourage an increase in the number of full-time nursery education places for children aged three and four years old.

Mr. Dunn

I refer the hon. Members to the replies that I have given today to the hon. Members for Easington (Mr. Cummings), for Knowsley, North (Mr. Howarth), and for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram).