Child Care (Hansard, 26 April 2004)

§ Mr. Kaufman
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year olds in Manchester Gorton in each of the last seven years. [167450]

§ Margaret Hodge
The information is not available in the form requested. Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year olds in Manchester local education authority area are shown in the table. The latest figures on provision for three and four year olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin 'Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.aov.uk/rsaatewav/.
From April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three year olds in England whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.

Number of free nursery education places^1,2 taken up by three and
four year old children in maintained nursery and primary schools
and private, voluntary and independent providers Manchester
Local Education Authority area 1997–2003
Position in January each year

Three year olds Four year olds

1997 3,700 6,000

1998 4,400 5,600

1999 4,200 5,500

2000 4,600 5,400

2001 4,600 5.400

2002 4,600 5,300

2003 4,600 5,200

¹Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year old children. ²A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for thirty-three weeks of the year, usually three terms of eleven weeks.

§ Mr. Collins
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places providing wraparound care linked to early education have been provided since 2000. [167555]

§ Margaret Hodge
We had created, at December 2003, over 50,000 new wraparound care places linked to early education since 2001, and expect continued progress.
In addition, we have now adopted a significant new approach to encouraging the integration of early years services. Since this manifesto commitment was made, the Children's Centres initiative has been launched and is now our key contributor to the growth of integrated early learning and childcare provision. Our intention is that 43,000 new integrated places will be created in Children's Centres by 2006. By 2008 we are committed to having Children's Centres in the most disadvantaged areas in England. Our long term aim is to have a Children's Centre in every community.
795W

§ Mr. Kaufman
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many child care places have been created in Manchester, Gorton since 1997; [167436]
(2) how many children in Manchester, Gorton have benefited from the National Childcare Strategy. [167453]

§ Margaret Hodge
The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Manchester, Gorton. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Manchester local authority created 6,115 new child care places helping some 11,153 children. This shows an increase in stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 3,629 helping some 6,772 children.

Number of free nursery education places^1,2 taken up by three and four year old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers Manchester Local Education Authority area 1997–2003 Position in January each year
	Three year olds	Four year olds
1997	3,700	6,000
1998	4,400	5,600
1999	4,200	5,500
2000	4,600	5,400
2001	4,600	5.400
2002	4,600	5,300
2003	4,600	5,200
¹Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year old children.	²A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for thirty-three weeks of the year, usually three terms of eleven weeks.