§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pre-schools have closed since 1 May 1997; and how many places at such schools have been lost as a result.[139298]
§ Ms Hodge[holding answer 20 November 2000]: Information is not available in the form requested. The Department does collect information on playgroups and pre-schools, which is published in Statistical Bulletin "Children's Day Care Facilities" (as at 31 March), which is available from the Library. This shows the total number of playgroups and pre-schools, in each year from 1996–97 to 1999–2000. It shows that as a result of the partnership 410W approach towards providing new nursery places, the number of places has begun to increase again over the last year for which figures are available:
1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Number of playgroups and pre-schools1 15,800 15,700 15,000 14,300 Net difference1 — —100 —700 —700 Number of places1 383,700 383,600 347,200 353,100 Net difference — —100 —36,400 †5,900 1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred A total of £1.750 million has been made available over the three years from 1998 to 2000 for small grants to voluntary pre-schools and playgroups facing financial
411Wdifficulties, to give them breathing space as policy initiatives work through to individual groups. Over the first two years of the scheme, grants were made to some 1,500 pre-schools. This year's scheme is currently in progress. This year we have also made available £250,000 for projects to help pre-schools and playgroups develop, in partnership with others, as early education and care places expand.
The expansion of free places for three-year-olds, which is significantly increased in the current school year, is taking place largely in the private and voluntary sectors and we expect to see playgroups benefiting from that expansion. There are 120,000 more free nursery places for three and four-year-olds this year than there were in 1997.