To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what method of funding the Government envisage for the new nursery classes under the consultation for removing the requirements to publish statutory proposals to establish nursery classes in the maintained, grant-maintained, voluntary and county school sector. [39148]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently consulting interested parties on removing the requirement for the maintained sector to publish statutory proposals to establish new nursery classes. The consultation letter discusses a number of options and their funding implications. These will be considered in light of the responses to the consultation letter.