North Yorkshire councils have been sent back to the classroom over their plans to introduce free nursery education for all four-year-olds and better childcare.

Education Minister Margaret Hodge has approved 150 local plans for providing these nursery places.

But 48 - including York's and North Yorkshire's - have only been given conditional approval.

They will be expected to report back to education ministers in June with improved proposals.

Their plans were "basically sound" but certain key elements needed developing.

Bernadette Jones, head of policy and development at North Yorkshire's education department, said councils had been asked to submit plans which included ideas for improving childcare provision for under 15s.

North Yorkshire's plan was huge, as it was such a large geographical area, and had involved a comprehensive survey across the county.

The Government had been largely pleased with it but had asked the county to increase its targets for providing childcare places for under fours.

"We will be drawing up plans and sending them to the Government in the hope that we will be included in the next phase of the Sure Start Scheme."

This scheme had been set up by the Government to help councils fund childcare places for under fours. The first phase included a list of 60 districts, mainly in inner-city areas.

Philip Wells, assistant director of education at the City of York Council, said: "This is not a major setback. We will have to look at the advice and guidance the Government have given. We will take those comments on board."

He said the Government had commented on the plan being very good. Mrs Hodge said: "I have carefully scrutinised the plans to ensure that local authorities have worked in real partnership with the private and voluntary sectors to provide places.

"This is the first step in an ambitious and exciting programme." The plans have to include a training strategy for nursery workers, a qualified teacher to be involved with all nurseries, and an information service for parents to find out where nursery places are available.

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