To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to ensure access for disabled children to child care facilities in each local authority area. (259281)

All local authorities are required to pay particular attention to the needs of families with a disabled child in meeting their duty to ensure there is sufficient child care in their areas.

The Government’s “Aiming High for Disabled Children” programme, announced in May 2007, included additional funding of £35 million for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to develop projects to improve access to child care for disabled children and young people and to reduce attitudinal barriers. Pilots began in September 2008 in 10 local authorities, to test out the ways of meeting the needs of disabled children in their areas, with best practice subsequently being rolled out more widely.