* Almost half the three-year-olds in England attend a private day nursery or pre-school, according to Government figures published last week. The figures show that of 541,300 three-year-olds in all daycare sectors, the number in the private and voluntary sectors increased from 268,000 (44 per cent of all three-year-olds) in January 2000 to 285,000 (47 per cent) in January 2001, an increase of 17,000. The number of three-year-olds funded by the nursery education grant in the private and voluntary sectors tripled from 6 per cent to 19 per cent during the same time, increasing by 79,900 from 37,000 to 116,900.
* Almost half the three-year-olds in England attend a private day nursery or pre-school, according to Government figures published last week.
The figures show that of 541,300 three-year-olds in all daycare sectors, the number in the private and voluntary sectors increased from 268,000 (44 per cent of all three-year-olds) in January 2000 to 285,000 (47 per cent) in January 2001, an increase of 17,000. The number of three-year-olds funded by the nursery education grant in the private and voluntary sectors tripled from 6 per cent to 19 per cent during the same time, increasing by 79,900 from 37,000 to 116,900.
The number of three-year-olds in independent schools also increased. It rose from 25,900 in January 2000, of whom 2,500 were in places funded by the nursery education grant, to 27,200 children, with 6,100 of these grant-funded places, in January 2001.
