§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 3-year-olds have access to early years education in(a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire. [129883]
§ Margaret HodgeThe information is not available in the form requested.
In January 2002, 2,500 free early years education places were taken up by 3-year-olds in Buckinghamshire local education authority area.
We have made the commitment that by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all 3-year-olds whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.
The latest figures on early years provision in England were published by the Department in the Statistical First Release 15/2003 "Provision For Children Under Five Years Of Age In England—January 2003 (Provisional)", copies of which are available from the Library and the Department's website, www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.