Provisional figures for January 2003 reveal that 271,500 three-year-olds had subsidised places outside maintained sector provision - up from 184,600 in January 2002. The proportion of three-year-olds with funded places in the private and voluntary sector increased from 31 per cent to 47 per cent.
Overall, 88 per cent of three-year-olds took up either places at maintained schools or funded places in the private or voluntary sectors or independent schools. However, as some of the funded places will not have been for five sessions a week comprising two-and-a-half hours each, this does not mean that the Government has already surpassed its target of a free early education place for all three-year-olds whose parents want one - marked by 85 per cent take-up. It expects to meet this goal by April 2004, six months ahead of the original target.
Further statistics to be released in October this year should clarify the progress being made towards meeting that target.
Sure Start minister Catherine Ashton said, 'Good-quality nursery education can improve children's development and ensure they each get a sure start in life. There is already a free part-time early education place, which conists of five two-and-a-half hour sessions per week for 33 weeks of the year, for every four-year-old whose parents want one. We are on course to ensure that every three-year-old has access to this entitlement by April 2004.
'Funded early education is provided within a variety of settings in the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors from maintained nursery schools and classes to playgroups and childminder networks, giving parents greater choice. Alongside this, we are creating more childcare places delivered alongside early education and family support services.'
The statistics show that in January 2003, more three-year-olds had funded places in the private and voluntary sector (47 per cent) than in nursery and primary schools (38 per cent). Three per cent had funded places in independent schools, representing 18,500 children.
The total number of three-year-olds taking up any kind of early years place is 574,400, or 99 per cent.
The figures were released just before the start of National Sure Start Month, which kicked off with a teddy bears' picnic for parents and children at London Zoo on Monday (2 June).
This is National Day Nurseries Week (1 to 8 June), during which hundreds of nurseries across the country are expected to take part in the Sunflower Challenge to plant sunflowers and raise money for WaterAid, which provides water and sanitation for some of the world's poorest people.
James Mayhew, who wrote and illustrated the children's book Katie and the Sunflowers, will paint a huge sunflower mural at the nursery that raises the most money for WaterAid.
This will be followed by Pre-school Playweek (7 to 13 June), National Childcare Week (9 to 15 June), co-ordinated by Daycare Trust, which will focus on the theme of men and childcare, National Childminding Week (14 to 21 June), and Kids' Clubs Week (23 to 30 June).
For more information about the events, see www.nationalsurestartmonth.com,or ring the helpline on 020 7522 6962.
