Mr. Michael J. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional teachers and classroom assistants have been employed in primary schools in(a) Worcester and (b) Mid-Worcestershire since May 1997. [133772]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe full-time equivalent numbers of additional qualified teachers and educational support staff employed in maintained primary schools between January 1997 and January 2000 in the parliamentary constituency areas of Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire are shown in the following table.
Number Qualified teachers Worcester 1.3 Mid-Worcestershire 12.1 Educational Support staff1 Worcester 39.8 Mid-Worcestershire 38.3 1 Includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff, librarians and technicians There has been a growth of 6,900 full-time equivalent regular teachers in the maintained school sector in England between January 1998 and January 2000. The Government will also increase by 20,000 the numbers of full-time equivalent support staff working in primary and secondary schools in England by 2002.
Mr. Michael J. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many five, six and seven year-olds in(a) Worcester and (b) Mid-Worcestershire have benefited from a reduction in class sizes to 30 or less. [133766]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisI will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Michael J. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pre-school places have been provided in(a) Worcester and (b) Mid-Worcestershire since May 1997 and are planned in the next three years for (i) four year-olds and (ii) three year-olds. [133771]