§ Lord Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many children are now in local education authority nursery classes in (a) England and (b) Wales; and [HL1036]
How many nursery classes there are in (a) England and (b) Wales; and [HL1037]
What is their estimate of the number of pre-school playgroups in (a) England and (b) Wales. [HL1040]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)The information is not available in the form requested.
There were 331,300 children in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England in January 2003. The number of maintained primary schools in England with nursery classes was 6,400. The number of maintained nursery schools in England was 475. 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.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
The department's best estimate of the number of pre-school playgroups in England as at January 2003 is 10,100.
Information on early years education in Wales is a matter for the Education Department of the Assembly for Wales.
§ Lord Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the monies given by local government annually to the pre-school playgroup movement in (a) England and (b) Wales. [HLI041]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandThis information is not held centrally. It is a matter for each local authority to determine spending in their area based on local need and circumstances. The position in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
§ Lord Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What further initiatives they propose to assist nursery education in (a) England and (b) Wales. [HL1055]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandBy April 2004, six months ahead of target, every three and four year-old is guaranteed a free part-time early education place in either the maintained, voluntary or private sector.
We are building on the well received foundation stage as part of the national curriculum and have appointed a new Foundation Stage Director to develop and deliver expert support at regional level as part of the National Primary Strategy. Together with the registration and inspection of all settings by Ofsted, this will ensure high quality nursery education for all children.
159WAFinally, we are committed to developing Children's Centres, integrating early education with full day care, health and family support. Sixty-one Children's Centres have been approved and the Chancellor recently announced in this pre-Budget review that we will create 1,000 Children's Centres by 2008.
The position in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.