Three-year-olds (Hansard, 14 January 1999)

HC Deb 14 January 1999 vol 323 c261W 261W

§ 30. Mr. Chaytor
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been allocated to local authorities to enable them to provide pre-school places for three-year-olds. [64070]

§ Ms Hodge
On 30 December 1998, the Department announced that we would be making available £390 million additional funding for over the next three years. This will enable the participation rate for three-year-olds in early education to approximately double to 66 per cent. by 2002. I should also add that there has been an increase of 9½per cent. in Local Education Authority's standard spending assessments. Local Education Authorities can spend this money on early years education if they wish.