§ 29. Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the provision of nursery places in Sheffield. [88995]
§ Ms HodgeSheffield's Early Years Development and Childcare Plan for 1999–2000 sets out how a free early education place is being made available for every four-year-old child whose parents want it. My Department gave full approval to Sheffield's Plan in March. Sheffield was one of 57 authorities allocated funding for creating new nursery places for three-year-olds in 1999/2000. We are still considering each Local Education Authority's plan for increasing early education places for three-year-olds.