The proportion of nurseries judged inadequate by Ofsted in Britain’s poorest neighbourhoods has increased by more than a quarter, from 8.5 per cent in 2007/08 to 10.8 per cent in 2008/09. But in the richest neighbourhoods, the number of inadequate settings has declined in the same period from 6.1 per cent to 5.3 per cent.
The figures, obtained in answer to Parliamentary questions tabled by shadow families minister Maria Miller, refer to the proportion of non-domestic childcare settings judged to be inadequate in the 10 per cent most deprived and 10 per cent least deprived local authority areas.
"This government has failed the poorest children and families in our society," said Miller. "The quality of childcare and early years education is worsening in the most deprived areas. Yet the evidence shows these are the very children who have the most to gain from high-quality pre-school education."
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