| Synopsis: |
The original target of the Department of Education's Pre-school Education Expansion Programme (the Programme), launched in April 1998, was to create over 9,000 new high quality funded pre-school places by 2002. In the longer term, the aim was to provide a full year of pre-school education for every child whose parents wish it (the pre-school education stage is not compulsory). By 2008-09 provision of funded pre-school places covered 97 per cent of children in their immediate pre-school year (i.e. children aged over three years and two months). Prior to the start of the Programme coverage had stood at 45 per cent. The Programme was targeted initially on the most socially disadvantaged children, who are more likely to experience difficulty at school and who are known to benefit to a greater degree from pre-school education, as well as the oldest children in the pre-school cohort. The additional places were to be provided through a partnership approach between the statutory and voluntary/private sectors, and providers had to adhere to quality standards assessed by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI).Since 1998, the total expenditure incurred by the Programme has been GBP 85 million. The Comptroller and Auditor General examines the Department of Education's policy-making procedures in relation to this Programme and reviews the progress the Programme has made against its core objectives of improving the accessibility of pre-school education and maintaining its quality. |