§ Mrs. DeanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many free nursery places were not taken up in Staffordshire in the 2000–01 academic year; [24061]
(2) what representations she has received from Staffordshire on early years development funding in this financial year; and if she will make a statement. [24060]
§ Margaret HodgeIn 2000–01 financial year Staffordshire spent all the funding made available to them by the DfES for the provision of free early education places for three-year-olds. They were initially allocated £225,040 to provide 194 free early education places for three-year-olds. However, a further £172,000 was made available so that by spring 2001 they were able to fund 511 early education places for three-year-olds.
In 2001–02 Staffordshire were initially allocated £1,344,816 of funding to provide 1,132 places. Officials at Staffordshire local education authority wrote to the Department after this allocation requesting further funding be made available to Staffordshire to provide more free, early education places for three-year-olds. Funding has recently been increased by £226,000 and by the spring term 2002 Staffordshire will be able to fund 2,066 places.