The number of three-and four-year-olds in Britain's schools has trebled

The number of three-and four-year-olds in Britain's schools has trebled over the past 30 years, Government statistics show. The 32nd edition of Social Trends, published last week by the Office for National Statistics, said that as a result of the rise in pre-school-age children enrolled in schools, the total number of playgroups and pre-schools in 2001 fell to 14,000, which was 300 fewer than in 2000. The number of places also fell by 23,000 - a six per cent drop - to 330,000 in 2001. But there are now 12 times the number of out-of-school club places for children aged five to seven in England than there were a decade ago. In 2001, 4,900 out-of-school clubs provided 152,800 places for five-to seven-year-olds, compared with 350 clubs in 1992. Among other areas profiled in Social Trends, the report noted 'a highly-significant increasing trend' in the proportion of nought- to four-year-olds who are overweight. But children's dental health has improved in recent years. In 1999/2000, 60 per cent of five-year-olds had no decayed, missing or filled teeth compared with 56 per cent in 1989. The report also noted that the number of families with dependent children headed by a lone parent is three times higher than it was in 1971.