HC Deb 16 February 1993 vol 219 c155W
Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what statistics are available on the educational achievements of children who received pre-school nursery education relative to children who did not receive nursery education.

Mr. Forth

The Department does not collect statistics on this issue. Various research findings suggest that nursery education has benefits in preparing many children for their primary schooling. There is no conclusive evidence of its longer-term benefits or of its cost effectiveness relative to that of other forms of under-five provision.