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WQ.376/2024
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING
BY DEPUTY I. GARDINER OF ST. HELIER NORTH
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 28th OCTOBER 2024
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2024
Question
"Further to the announcement regarding the introduction of a pilot scheme for wrap around care provision at school nurseries, will the Minister advise –
- the criteria to access free wrap around childcare at Plat Douet school, and whether he considers such access to be equitable;
- how the free care at Plat Douet school is being funded;
- what data, if any, has been analysed to determine whether individual pilots for early years care or wrap around care are successful and cost effective;
- what work has been done, if any, to analyse the potential inflationary effect on the cost of childcare for 0–3 year olds;
- what plans he has, if any, for providing care for children as young as 3 months, currently provided by the private sector;
- what are his long-term plans for the nursery sector; and
- what consideration, if any, he has given to the impact of his plans on the private, voluntary and independent sector; and has he consulted with the sector to understand the potential impact?"
Answer
The pilot schemes for wrap around care provision at school nurseries are one of several pilot projects which are progressing which will contribute to improving early years outcomes for children. If approved, the proposed Government budget 2025/8 will allow further investment in the sector informed, in part, by the learning gained from this and other pilot projects.
- The pilot programs are initially focused on expanding support for families with young children with additional needs, including those with SEND, developmental delays, and from low-income households. As pilots inform wider policy development, we will include an assessment of equitable provision.
- Any incremental costs of provision are funded through the Education budget.
- The pilots will provide data to inform policy on models of provision and pricing amongst other areas.
- The pilots are expected to have no/negligible impact on inflation. Work to develop any wider provisions will include an assessment of inflationary impacts.
- The current plans focus on extending universal provision from 3-4 to 2-4-year-olds. There are no current plans to extend beyond this range of provision.
- The Common Strategic Policy, approved by the Assembly in May 2024, sets out my plans for this sector during this Council's time in office. Previous work has informed this position which include;
Early Years Policy Development Board
Early Years Round Table Engagement Series
Optimizing early childhood education and childcare - Evidence paper
- The pilots are expected to have a negligible impact on the private, voluntary and independent with sector representatives. As we progress from pilots to wider policy, further engagement will be undertaken.