§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) after school and (b) holiday clubs have been (i) closed, (ii) established and (iii) supported by funding from her Department on the Isle of Wight in each year since 1997. [57538]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 20 May 2002]The information is not available in the form requested, statistics are gathered in the form of the number of places rather than the number of clubs (as the size of clubs varies considerably).
Since April 1999 local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships (EYDCPs) have provided information on all the new child care places that have been established and all those that close within their local area. Between April 1999 and December 2001, Isle of Wight EYDCP has reported the creation of 515 out of school places and 202 holiday only places. During the same period the EYDCP reported the closure of 45 out of school places. The year on year breakdown is set out in the table.
1999–2000 2000–01 April to December 2001 New places Out of school1 270 138 107 Holiday only 42 44 116 Closed places Out of school1 0 0 45 Holiday only 0 0 0 1 The data on out of school places includes before and after school places and all year round provision. Detailed information prior to April 1999 is not available.
Funding for out of school and holiday clubs is provided by the New Opportunities Fund. Since April 1999 the New Opportunities Fund has made seven awards totalling £289,262 specifically to support out of school child care projects in the Isle of Wight.
In addition infrastructure support funding is provided by the Government through the child care grant made available to EYDCPs who are tasked with providing and supporting good quality, affordable child care in their respective areas. The annual child care grant allocations to Isle of Wight EYDCP since April 1999 are set out in the table.
277W
£ Child care grant allocation 1999–2000 99,400 2000–01 124,740 2001–02 299,650
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) after school and (b) holiday clubs achieved financial sustainability within three years; and what steps she is taking to ensure that new clubs are not set up at the expense of those already in existence. [57539]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 20 May 2002]Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships have been given the target of ensuring that a minimum of 80 per cent. of all New Opportunities Fund sponsored out of school child care places remain viable and available five years after being established. The Fund has rigorous assessment procedures in place to ensure that funded projects have sound plans to ensure long term sustainability. The current position is that 90 per cent. of places opened are still in operation, irrespective of whether they are still receiving funding support, and we are well on track to achieve our sustainability target.
The available figures for sustainability do not separately identify after school and holiday clubs.
EYDCPs are responsible for planning and co-ordinating child care in their areas; ensuring that available funding is targeted in locations where there is a shortfall in provision to avoid conflicting with existing provision: and keep provision and demand under continuous review.