§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the average cost of a full-time nursery place in(a) England and (b) the Buckingham constituency. [17842]
§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost is of a full-time nursery place in(a) England and (b) Arundel and South Downs. [18329]
§ Margaret HodgeInformation on the average cost of full-time nursery education places is not collected by my Department.
All funding for full and part-time nursery education places for 4-year-olds, along with the majority of funding for 3-year-olds, in the local authority maintained sector, is determined locally.
In 2001–02, the Government are funding new, free, part-time early education places for 3-year-olds at the rate of £1,188 per child. This funding can purchase five two and a half hour sessions per week, for 11 weeks per term, for 33 weeks per year. Government funding of nursery education for 4-year-olds is channelled through the standard spending assessment. This Government have increased spending on nursery education from £1 billion in 1996–97 to £1.8 billion in 2001–02. Expenditure is planned to rise to £2 billion by 2002–03.