§ Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what definition the Government use of a child care place; and if he will make a statement. [175695]
§ Margaret HodgeChild care places are defined to include: places for pre-school children in day nurseries or with child minders which last four hours or longer per days1; places for children receiving nursery education which, combined with the nursery education, last at least four hours per day2; and places for statutory school age children aged up to 14 (16 for those with special educational needs or disabilities) in breakfast or after school clubs or with child minders for any length of time, or in holiday play schemes of four hours or longer per day. In addition, the Government also provide a guarantee of a free nursery education place for every three and four-year-old whose parents want one. A nursery education place consists of a minimum of five two and half hour sessions per week for 33 weeks of the year.
The number of child care places created between April 1997 and March 2004 is 1,006,000 helping some 1,812,000 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 541,000 helping some 991,000 children.
1 Where places are provided for pre-school children as part of the Children's Centre or Neighbourhood Nurseries programme, the provision must have the capacity to deliver a minimum of 10 hours care per day.
1051W2 Prior to April 2004 the definition of a child care place for pre-school children included any place lasting at least three and a half hours per day.