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The local authorities that had validated the fewest codes as a percentage of those issued are Barking & Dagenham (80 per cent), Merton (81 per cent), Walsall (81 per cent) and Manchester (81 per cent).
The Department for Education (DfE) statistics on take-up of the 30 hours for the spring term (1 January-31 March) show that 329,195 codes were issued for the spring term. Of these, 307,165 (93 per cent) were validated by childcare providers and local authorities, and 294,000 (89 per cent) had secured a place, leaving 13,165 of those eligible without a place.
While the numbers with a validated code and without a place have fallen since the autumn term, from 22,102 to 13,165, over two-thirds (68) of local authorities have fewer children in a 30 hours place as a percentage of codes issued than the national average (89 per cent).
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