HC Deb 08 February 1996 vol 271 c321W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the number and percentage of three-year-olds in(a) maintained nursery schools and nursery classes, (b) reception classes in primary schools, (c) private or voluntary sector provision an (d) pre-school provision overall. [14118]

Mr. Robin Squire

The available information for schools in England is shown in the following table. We have no reliable estimates on three-year olds in voluntary or private provision.

Pupils aged three years of age (1) in schools in England: January 1995
School type Pupils Percentage of population2
Maintained nursery schools and nursery classes 277,353 42
Infant classes in primary schools 1,309
Independent schools3 22,075 3
All schools4 303,467 46
—negligible (i.e. less than 0.5)
1Full-time and part-time pupils aged three years of age at 31 August 1994.
2 Full-time and part-time pupils aged three years of age at 31 August 1994, expressed as a percentage of the population aged three at 31 August 1994
3 Includes pupils in direct grant nursery schools.
4 Includes pupils in maintained nursery, primary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools.