§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had on pre-schooling; what plans he has to expand high-quality pre-school care; and if he will make a statement. [139445]
§ Margaret HodgeMinisters have discussed pre school issues with a wide range of organisations and individuals in recent months.
All four-year-olds now have access to a free, part time early education place and by April 2004 all three-year-olds will have access to a free part time place. Presently 88 per cent. of three-year-olds enjoy free early education.
We have also funded a major expansion of child care through our National Childcare Strategy. Since 1997, 745,000 new places have been created, benefiting more than 1.3 million children. Following the substantial increase in child care expenditure agreed as part of the 2002 Spending Review, new places will be provided for over 2 million children by 2006.
Our National Standards set a benchmark of quality below which no registered child care should fall and Ofsted inspects against these Standards.
Specific initiatives, such as Sure Start local programmes, Neighbourhood Nurseries and our new children's centres, are expanding high quality, safe child care in disadvantaged communities, increasingly provided alongside early education and family and health support.