§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on progress on provision of nursery education for all four year olds. [4126]
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§ Mr. Robin SquireGood progress has been made towards the implementation of our proposals to expand pre-school provision for four-year olds.
We have appointed a private contractor— Capita Managed Services Ltd—to administer phase 1 of the nursery education voucher scheme, which will take place in Kensington and Chelsea, Norfolk, Wandsworth and Westminster. The Department, the voucher contractor and the volunteer LEAs are working closely together to finalise details for phase 1.
We have consulted on a number of issues related to the operation of the scheme. We are currently considering the responses and will publish our conclusions early in the new year.