Figures show rise in care for three-year-olds

* 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.