HC Deb 16 October 1996 vol 282 cc991-4W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from pre-school providers whose rolls have decreased as a result of competition from other providers in phase one of the voucher scheme; and if she will list those providers. [40538]

Mr. Robin Squire

Of more than 640 private and voluntary providers registered for the voucher scheme at April 1996, I am aware of six that have asked to withdraw, citing competition from other providers. These are:

  • Long Stratton Playgroup, Norwich
  • Bradwell Plagroup, Great Yarmouth
  • Marsham Playgroup, Norwich
  • Lingwood Pre-School, Norwich
  • Busy Bees, North Walsham
  • Sandringham and West Newton Pre-School.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many four-year-olds were in(a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) local education authority pre-school provision, in each of the phase 1 areas of the nursery voucher scheme, at the latest date for which figures are available before 1 April 1996; and how many are provided for in each sector, in each phase one area, at the latest date for which figures are available. [40527]

Mr. Squire

The available information is shown in the following table. Information on pupils in voluntary and private provision is not collected centrally.

Pupils aged four1 in maintained schools in phase 1 local education authority areas—January 1996
Primary schools
LEA Nursery schools Nursery classes Infant classes2 Special schools Total
Wandsworth 70 729 1,666 9 2,474
Westminster 66 449 538 0 1,053
Kensington and Chelsea 96 269 368 0 733
Norfolk 134 537 5,490 26 6,187
1 Pupils born between 1 January and 31 December 1991.
2 Includes pupils in reception classes.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many eligible children in each of the four pilot authorities have not taken up their entitlement to apply for a nursery voucher; and what research she proposes to identify which parents and children are not currently receiving vouchers. [40529]

Mr. Squire

The estimated number of children eligible for vouchers in each of the phase 1 authorities and the number of children for whom vouchers have been issued is shown in the following table. Estimates of population are less reliable when broken down both by local authority area and by year group. Non-take-up of vouchers will be analysed in the evaluation statement to be provided in the autumn.

Estimated number of eligible children Number of children for whom vouchers have been issued
Norfolk 9,300 8,976
Kensington and Chelsea 1,650 1,151
Wandsworth 3,300 3,170
Westminster 1,900 1,414

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice she has issued to the pilot authorities in respect of the admission of four-year-olds who do not have a voucher. [40531]

Mr. Squire

Guidance has been issued to the phase 1 authorities on the procedure by which headteachers can, in exceptional cases, apply for vouchers on behalf of their pupils. Guidance on the interaction of nursery education vouchers and admissions arrangements is currently being sent to all local education authorities and maintained primary schools.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 26 JuneOfficial Report, column 158, how much has been spent on publicity, in each of the four pilot authorities and overall, at the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the projected publicity budget in phase one of the voucher scheme. [40574]

Mr. Squire

The original budget for providing information to parents and providers in the financial year 1995–96 in the phase 1 areas was £750,000. This was revised to £1.1 million to meet the unexpectedly high demand for information nationwide. The estimated budget for the financial year 1996–97 is £300,000, of which £175,000 has been spent to date.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 16 July,Official Report, column 466, how many four-year-olds in each local authority participating in the pilot phase of the voucher scheme to date have been enrolled who did not have a voucher at the time of their enrolment; and how many applications have been made by providers on behalf of such children. [40576]

Mr. Squire

Of the 14,711 vouchers issued for the summer term, 1,166 were issued after the start of that term. Of these, 300 were issued in response to applications by maintained schools on behalf of eligible children.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average unit cost per pupil for provision in(a) nursery schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) reception classes in primary schools (d) and playgroups, at the latest date for which figures are available. [40537]

Mr. Squire

The average unit cost per full-time equivalent pupil in 1994–95 for those categories of under fives' provision for which estimates are available nationally are as follows:

1994–95 estimates for England
£
Nursery schools 3,500
Nursery classes in primary schools 2,880
Primary classes (including under 5s) 1,640
Average 2,150

Comparable data for playgroups are not collected centrally.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made or received of the cost of administration arising from the voucher scheme, in respect of(a) each of the pilot local education authorities, (b) providers in each area and (c) her Department. [40530]

Mr. Squire

Grant aid was made available to the four local education authorities taking part in the first phase of the voucher scheme in respect of the extra costs incurred in participating in phase 1 compared to joining phase 2. Details were set out on 29 April 1996,Official Report, column 348. No detailed estimate of administration costs has been made in respect of providers in each area. The estimated cost of administering the nursery voucher scheme from April 1997 is not expected to exceed 2.7 per cent. of the total cost of the nursery voucher scheme. Some two-thirds of the administration costs are expected to cover the new system of inspection.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what notification she has received in respect of pre-school providers who have gone out of business as a result of competition from other providers in the phase 1 areas of the nursery voucher scheme; and if she will list those organisations notified to her. [40532]

Mr. Squire

Of more than 640 private and voluntary providers registered for the voucher scheme at April 1996, four have notified the nursery voucher centre that they have since closed, but none gave a reason.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many providers have received initial validation to accept voucher-bearing children, in the(a) maintained, (b) voluntary and (c) private sectors; and how many, in each sector, consequent to initial validation (i) have already been inspected, (ii) will be inspected during the autumn term and (iii) will be inspected during the spring term. [40533]

Mr. Squire

A total of 494 providers in the maintained sector and 647 providers in the private and voluntary sectors are participating in phase 1 of the scheme. I understand from the chief inspector of schools that approximately 300 providers will be inspected in the autumn term and approximately 350 in the spring term.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment her Department has made during the first term of the pilot phase of the impact of the voucher scheme on children with special educational needs. [40535]

Mr. Squire

The nursery education voucher scheme brings the prospect of earlier identification and intervention for children with special education needs. To achieve this end, providers who are not maintained schools will have a duty to have regard to the code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs and associated guidance. Following discussions with the National Portage Association, and a trial in phase 1, portage services registered with the National Portage Association will be allowed to redeem nursery vouchers in phase 2.