Proposed Government Plan 2022-2025 (P.90/2021): twentieth amendment. Degree course for Private Nursery Practitioners

STATES OF JERSEY

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2022- 2025 (P.90/2021): TWENTIETH AMENDMENT

DEGREE COURSE FOR PRIVATE NURSERY PRACTITIONERS

Lodged au Greffe on 30th November 2021

by the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

STATES GREFFE

2021  P.90 Amd.(20)

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2022-2025 (P.90/2021): TWENTIETH AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (f) –

After the words "set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report2 insert the words –

"except  that,  in  Summary  Table  5(i)  –  2022  Revenue  Heads  of Expenditure,  the  Head  of  Expenditure  for  Children,  Young  People, Education and Skills shall be increased by £232,260 to fund the training of degree-level practitioners within private nursery settings."

CHILDREN, EDUCATION AND HOME AFFAIRS SCRUTINY PANEL

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to receive the Government Plan 2022 – 2025 specified in Article 9(1) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 ("the Law") and specifically –

1. to approve the estimate of total States income to be paid into the Consolidated Fund in 2022 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 1 to the Report, which is inclusive of the proposed taxation and impôts duties changes outlined in the Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(a) of the Law
2. to approve the Changes to Approval for financing/borrowing for 2022, as shown in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 3 to the Report, which may be obtained by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, as and when required, in line with Article 9 (2)(c) of the Law, of up to those revised approvals;
3. to approve the transfers from one States fund to another for 2022 of up to and including the amounts set in Appendix 2 – Summary table 2 to the Report, noting that the transfer from the Consolidated Fund to the Technology Fund is subject to the Assembly's approval of a proposition to create such a Fund in 2022, in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law;
4. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2022 and the total cost of each such project and any amendments to the proposed total cost of a major project under a previously approved Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(d), (e) and (f) of the Law and as set out in Appendix 2 - Summary Table 4 to the Report;
5. to endorse the efficiencies and other re-balancing measures for 2022 contained in the Government Plan as set out in Appendix 2 Summary Table 6 and reflected within each gross head of expenditure in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 5(i);

6. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund for 2022, for each head of expenditure, being gross expenditure less estimated income (if any), in line with Articles 9(2)(g), 10(1) and 10(2) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report, except that,in Summary Table 5(i) – 2022 Revenue Heads of Expenditure, the Head ofExpenditure  for  Children,  Young  People,  Education  and  Skills  shall  be increased by £232,260 to fund the training of degree level practitioners withinthe private nursery settings,
7. to approve up to £480 million to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund for  the  Past  Service  Pension  Liabilities  Refinancing  head  of  expenditure, subject to the availability of funding, which may include, in full or in part, use of the borrowing/financing referred in paragraph (b);
8. to  approve  the  estimated  income,  being  estimated  gross  income  less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2022 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
9. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2022 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 8 to the Report;
10. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2022 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
11. to approve an amendment to the policy of the Strategic Reserve Fund to enable that Fund to be used as a holding Fund for any or all monies related to the repayment of debt raised through external financing, with the monies used to offset the repayment of debt, as and when required; and
12. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2022-2025, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report

Page - 3

P.90/2021 Amd.(20)

REPORT

The Panel notes that one of the key policy areas identified in the work of the Early Years Policy Development Board (EYPDB) is the introduction of a transformation fund to recognise  and  enable  a  graduate  workforce  in  private  nursery  settings  providing pedagogical leadership within each setting. The Panel also notes that, at present, work is  ongoing  in  order  to  bring  forward  a  costed  action  plan  to  implement  the recommendations arising from the EYPDB report which will address the funding requirements for each of the policy areas.

However, at this time, the Panel is concerned that no funding has been identified in 2022 in order to fully realise some of these policy areas. In a response from the Minister for Children and Education to questions about funding the EYPDB recommendations, the Panel  was  informed  that  £85,490  has  been  allocated  from  the  Covid  Health  and Recovery Project to the Best Start Partnership in respect of funding professional courses delivered in partnership with Highlands College (of which £20,000 relates to CPD courses and £8,750 to support coaching and mentoring). The Panel queried if this additional funding was in relation to degree level courses in keeping with the policy intention for a graduate workforce in the private sector. It was confirmed that this funding only related to Level 3, 4 and 5 courses within Childcare only and does not cover degree level, although this is part of a later phase of work still to be designed.

Noting the policy intention and the fact that no funding is allocated to it in 2022, the Panel has therefore agreed to bring this amendment to allow for access to degree courses for staff working in the private sector from September 2022. Noting that there are currently 28 private registered nurseries in the Island, and in the absence of a detailed action plan in this area, the Panel has agreed that funding should be allocated at this stage to ensure one member of staff is able to undertake this training from each private nursery provider.

Noting a 1-year full-time or 2-year part time degree course in Childhood Studies is available at Highlands College (for students graduating from an FdA in Childhood Studies, although applications from students with appropriate alternative qualifications will be considered) at a cost of £8,295 per year full time1, the Panel would suggest that this should be used as a measure against which to allocate funding to meet this aim. Therefore, were one practitioner from each private nursery setting to undertake the training, the total cost for this would be £232,260 as a maximum. (28 practitioners at £8,295 for a full-time one-year course).  

The Panel has therefore agreed this amendment in order to provide additional funding in 2022 to meet the policy aim of the EYPDB and allow practitioners within the private nursery settings to access degree level training in 2022.  

Financial and manpower implications

The financial implications of this amendment would require the Council of Ministers to ensure that an additional £232,260 is allocated to the Heads of Expenditure for Children, Young People, Education and Skills in 2022 through increased borrowing or other sources.

1 https://www.highlands.ac.uk/courses-page/ba-hons-childhood-studies/#more-15369