§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of three-year-olds in deprived areas have access to early-years education. [69382]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Department does not collect data in the format requested.
However, we have increased the national percentage of three-year-olds able to access a free, part time, early education place from 34 per cent. in January 1997 to more than 66 per cent. in January 2002. By September 2004, all three-year-olds will be able to access a free place.
Already, 65 of the most deprived local education authorities offer a free nursery education place to all three-year-olds whose parents want one. The remaining authorities are responsible for devising eligibility criteria for the distribution of free places in their area according to social need.