§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of three year olds in Somerset have access to a free early education place; and if he will make a statement. [99816]
§ Maria EagleThe information is not available in the form requested. In January 2002, 2,390 free early years education places were taken up by three year olds in Somerset Local Education Authority area.
We have made the commitment that by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three year olds whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.
Latest figures on three year olds in early years education providers were published by the Department in the Statistical Bulletin "Provision for Children Under Five Years of Age in England—January 2002 (08/02)" in December 2002, a copy of which is available from the Library. An electronic copy of this publication is also available on the Department's web-site (www.dfes.gov.uk/ statistics).