HC Deb 19 June 1996 vol 279 cc475-6W
Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many inspections have been undertaken of registered establishments in the first two months of the current financial year; and what proportion of establishments these costs represent within each authority participating in the pilot scheme for nursery vouchers. [33271]

Mr. Robin Squire

No inspections of private and voluntary sector institutions participating in the nursery education voucher scheme can take place until the Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Bill has been given Royal Assent and has been commenced.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the qualifications required of the inspectors of under-fives establishments who have been newly recruited; and what proportion of these inspectors have each of the required qualifications. [33269]

Mr. Squire

In recruiting candidates for training to be registered nursery inspectors, the chief inspector of schools takes into account both relevant experience and qualifications as well as personal references.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional new inspectors have been recruited by The Office for Standards in Education in(a) February, (b) March, (c) April and (d) May to undertake inspection of establishments for nursery education. [33270]

Mr. Squire

For phase 1, the chief inspector invited 100 candidates to be nursery education inspectors to attend training courses in May 1996, and a further 120 and 100 in June and July 1996.