Expansion of Nursery Education

10.06.40pm GMT Thu 10th Mar 2005

Major plans to expand nursery education in Milton Keynes are underway, with £1.5 million earmarked for three new classes - at Howe Park, Kents Hill and Loughton Manor first schools.

Sandra Clark, cabinet member with responsibility for schools, said: "Within a year of the Liberal Democrat administration taking over responsibility for the Council in 2002, Milton Keynes met the Government's target for nursery classes for four-year-olds, with 100% having the opportunity of nursery education. We are now exceeding the Government's 85% target for three-year-olds - we've reached 93% in Milton Keynes."

The cabinet also decided that, from 2007, nursery classes will be attached to new primary schools in the growth areas on the east and west flanks of the city.

Sandra Clark added: "We are doing all we can to meet the needs of parents of young children and to ensure that the next generation have the best possible start to their education."