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WQ.387/2024
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING
BY DEPUTY K.L. MOORE OF ST. MARY, ST. OUEN AND ST. PETER
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 28th OCTOBER 2024
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2024
Question
"Will the Minister explain how he is going to ensure equality and equity for all children and parents in the rollout of universal funding for nursery care for 2-year-olds?"
Answer
Plans set out in the Common Strategic Policy 2024 – 2026, to be funded if approved by the Budget 2025 – 2028, set out the intention to move towards a universal offer for 2-3-year-olds. This starts by extending nursery and childcare provision to children in this age group with additional needs. This phasing is important, as it aims to align an increase in the offer of support to families with an increase in nursery and childcare spaces in a coordinated way.
If this phase is successful and we move to a wider implementation, equality will be ensured by delivery of a "universal" offer, i.e. available to every child, similar in ambition to the current Nursery Education Fund (NEF) for 3 – 4-year-olds. Equity will be ensured by the continuation of targeted offers which provide additional support, over and above the universal offer, for those with identified additional needs.