§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to extend Government funding of nursery places to three-year-olds. [68324]
§ Ms HodgeThe Government have set a target to double the participation of three-year-olds in free early education places to 66 per cent. by 2002. In 1999–2000, the Government are making available £40 million to the 50 Local Education Authority areas with greater social need to bring forward the first 47,000 places, which will be found in all sectors and described in each Authority's Early Years Development and Childcare Plan. Over the following two years an additional £350 million will be available to expand places across all Local Education Authority areas.
§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines he has issued to local authorities in informing parents of three and four-year-olds of their rights of access to local provision of nursery places. [68325]
§ Ms HodgeThe Government have issued guidance to Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships about what information they should provide to parents about early education and child care. In every LEA area there is an early education place for all four-year-olds whose parents want one; expansion of places for three-year-olds will begin in 50 LEA areas from September 1999.