§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimate for unmet need for nursery places in Wales. [41053]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansSome 90 per cent. of four-year-olds and 50 per cent. of three-year-olds attend maintained schools in Wales and some 1 per cent. of each, schools in the independent sector. Details of take-up of places in day care provision and in playgroups are not available. Provision in the maintained sector varies between and within local education authorities—from quarter to full time, and between places in nursery schools and nursery or reception classes in primary schools. There is no readily available information that this provision reflects parental choice.