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Child Care Places (Slough)
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) nursery and (b) after-school child care places were available in Slough in (i) April 1997 and (ii) April 2001. [160787]
Ms Hodge: In January 1997, 1,790 early education places for three and four-year-olds were taken up in the Slough local education authority area. By January 2000, this had increased to 2,434. Figures for the numbers of early education places for three and four-year-olds taken up in January 2001 are not yet available.
From September 1998, all four-year-olds have been able to access a free, part-time, early education place, From autumn 2004, all three-year-olds in England will also be entitled to a free early education place, if their parents want one.
We are unable to show statistics for out of school child care places prior to January 1999. In January 1999, there were 54 out of school child care places in group-based care in the Slough area. There was a slight decline in the year to January 2000 but we have yet to receive the figure for January 2001. Furthermore, 1,130 out of school places in both group-based care and with child minders are planned to be created between April 2001 and March 2004. Data for January 2001 are not yet available.
Key Stage 2
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of pupils achieved (a) 25 per cent. or less, (b) 26 to 50 per cent., (c) 51 to 75 per cent. and (d) 76 per cent. and above in each of the main key stage 2 tests in each of the last three years. [160685]
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Jacqui Smith: Key stage 2 test results are analysed and reported in terms of levels of a pupil's attainment rather than as marks or percentages. The marks from which the levels are derived are not appropriate for comparisons over time, because of the variations in the tests. National curriculum levels are set in a way that aims to ensure consistency of standards over time and therefore provide a sound basis for such comparisons.
Private Schools
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many, and what percentage of children in secondary education were in private schools (a) in each English local education authority and (b) in England as whole in (i) the latest year for which figures are available and (ii) each of the two preceding years. [160618]
Ms Estelle Morris [holding answer 9 May 2001]: The information requested is not collected centrally.
The annual schools' census collects information on pupils in independent schools educated in those schools, regardless of where the pupils live. Therefore, information is not available on the area of residence of pupils in independent schools and which local education authority would be responsible for them. Areas have different densities of independent schools which would lead to an over estimate of the proportion of pupils in independent schools in some areas.
Also, independent schools are not classified as primary or secondary.
Further Education Colleges
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the total value of the moneys clawed back from further education colleges was in the year 2000-01; how much of this money was re-allocated to further education; and if there is a plan to use it to increase the value of the units for 2001-02 by a fixed amount. [160523]
Mr. Wicks [holding answer 9 May 2001]: The Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) recovered £145 million from further education colleges where student numbers were not at the expected level in its last financial year 2000-01 and re-allocated £100 million to further education colleges. Where student numbers have gone up, the FEFC's successor, the Learning and Skills Council, will be considering reallocation of further funds in due course. There are no plans to increase the value of units for 2001-02 by a fixed amount.
Nursery Places (Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each nursery school in Shrewsbury and Atcham (a) the funding received and (b) the number of free nursery places created since 1 May 1997 for (i) three-year-olds and (ii) four- year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [160521]
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Ms Hodge [holding answer 9 May 2001]: Data regarding funding and number places for each individual nursery school are not held centrally.
Since 1997, however, a total of 1,639 new early education places have been created for three and four- year-olds in all settings in the Shropshire local education authority area. Since September 1998, all four-year-olds have been able to access a free, part-time early education place.
In 2001-02, Shropshire LEA has been allocated sufficient funding to create a further 748 new early education places for three-year-olds. By September 2004, all three-year-olds in England will be entitled to a free early education place, if their parents want one.
The funding available to Shropshire for early years education and child care since 1997 is shown in the following table.
| Year | Child care funding | Early Years Funding (SSA and Nursery Education Grant) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | n/a | 4,336,632 | 4,336,632 |
| 1998-99 | 70,000 | 5,638,935 | 5,708,935 |
| 1999-2000 | 199,200 | 5,863,664 | 6,062,864 |
| 2000-01 | 296,400 | 6,520,177 | 6,816,577 |
| 2001-02 | 1,168,690 | 7,268,624 | 8,437,314 |
Notes:
1. Figures for 1997-98 show the position before boundary changes took effect and include Telford and Wrekin. Figures for later years are for Shropshire only, without Telford and Wrekin.
2. Figures for 2001-02 are estimates only.
Education Provision (Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much it cost to replace a demountable classroom for the Bayston Hill Music and Arts Centre in Shrewsbury; and if he will make a statement. [160518]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 9 May 2001]: £71,991 was allocated to this project under the third phase of the New Deal for Schools programme in 1999-2000. This was the total estimated cost of the project. Shropshire local education authority will be able to advise the final cost of the project.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much it cost to provide additional classrooms at (a) Sundorne infants, (b) Greenfields primary and (c) Springfield infants schools in Shrewsbury and if he will make a statement. [160517]
Ms Estelle Morris [holding answer 9 May 2001]: The Government have allocated £80,000 and £88,000 respectively to Greenfields primary and Springfield infants schools, to provide additional accommodation as part of the infant class size initiative. Although capital funding has not been provided for an additional infant classroom at Sundorne infants, I understand that remodelling of existing accommodation has enabled the school to extend its nursery unit. The cost of that work, some £34,000, was supported by the school and the local education authority.
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The Government pledged to limit infant classes to 30. We have already delivered that pledge early for the vast majority of infants, including those in the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency. This has been achieved with the help of substantial funding made available under the class size initiative--allocations to Shropshire LEA alone amount to some £3.5 million.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list which schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham will benefit from the special Educational Needs Standards Fund; and if he will make a statement. [160515]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 9 May 2001]: We have made £82 million of supported expenditure available through the special educational needs standards fund in the current year (2001-02). This compares to £55 million in 2000-01. The allocation for this year for Shropshire LEA is £370,016.
The fund can be used for a range of activities including training for staff in special educational needs, improvements in speech and language therapy provision for children with communication difficulties, the provision of information and advice to parents, and the greater inclusion of children with special educational needs in the mainstream.
Information is not collected on how money is distributed by LEAs between schools. It is for individual LEAs to decide how they will use their grant but we expect them to work in partnership with their schools when deciding their special educational needs priorities.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham that have received new computer suites since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [160509]
Mr. Wills [holding answer 9 May 2001]: The Department does not hold information on the number of new computer suites in schools. However, since 1998 the average number of pupils per computer in primary and secondary schools in England has improved from 17.6: 1 to 12.6: 1, and from 8.7: 1 to 7.9: 1, respectively. Shropshire LEA estimates that £663,770 of national grid for learning funding has been allocated to schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham through the standards fund since 1997.
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