A total of 79 education authorities have submitted interim development plans on nursery education to the Government, education junior minister Estelle Morris announced this week.
The plans show how authorities, and private and voluntary nurseries and pre-schools can provide every four-year-old child with a free nursery place through partnerships.
Ms Morris welcomed the plans, and said she was “very, very encouraged” but said they were “not perfect” because they had been produced quickly.
All other authorities have to draw up plans for the summer term, 1998.