Revealing the plans on Monday, children's secretary Ed Balls said that the Government was responding to local authorities' concerns by increasing funding by an extra £100m, in addition to the £200m already pledged.
Most of the money will be used to build permanent classrooms in 34 local authorities who have rising numbers of fourand five-year-olds, and the remaining £30m will be available for other councils who have not applied for funding.
Rising birth rates, the effect of the economic crisis on the housing market and fewer parents sending their children to independent schools have been blamed for the shortage of places.
Mr Balls said, 'It's down to local authorities to make sure there are sufficient school places available to meet parental demand across their areas. As part of that, they predict future needs. But it is clear that some local authorities are now facing big unanticipated rises.'
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