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States Greffe
Deputy Robert Ward
Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning
BY EMAIL
4th February 2025
Dear Minister
Follow-up matters from the Public Hearing on 30th January 2025
Thank you for attending the public hearing last week, together with the Assistant Minister and your Officers, your time is much appreciated. During the hearing commitments were provided to follow up with:
• whether the CYPES and Social Security departments share information as part of the safeguards in place for children who move to the Island?
• more detailed information about funding and child-level data relating to Records of Need across mainstream schools.
• further details on the timescale for the planned major project at Mont à L'Abbé, including when building works will start.
• further details and data about the management of risk and fire safety in the school estate, including high risk areas.
We can confirm receipt of the UK guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools, forwarded to our officer following the hearing, thank you.
As we came to the end of the time allocated for the hearing you agreed to respond to the Panel's additional queries in writing, and I set these out below, for your attention:
- With reference to the Ministerial response to the Panel's Budget review, (namely recommendation number 3 about grant funding for the third sector) in your opinion, could the Government be more transparent about where it provides grants under the sum of £75,000?
- In 2023 the Panel had heard [from the previous Minister for Children and Education] that there was work underway to review the commissioning framework used by CYPES. Can the Panel be informed whether work has continued under the present Government and, if so, advise what it has involved?
(a) [If not continued: Why was this work not continued?]
- Can you tell us about the levels of Jersey history and Jersey geography that are included on the school curriculum?
- Is the amount of local information dependant on teacher / school decisions?
- Do the schools work with Jersey Heritage to plan outings?
- Can you provide the public with an update on the recruitment for permanent replacements for the Chief Officer of CYPES and the Director of Education?
(a) How is the Department planning to ensure continuity into 2025 following the change of two key persons in six months?
- How has CYPES been impacted by move to the Union Street office?
- Can it be confirmed if the former Education building at Highlands College has been retained for use by CYPES? / What will this be used for if so?
- The Government has committed to providing additional £1.04 million of funding to bring forward the repairs required at Highlands College. Please can you provide us with details about the timescale for those works this year?
Thank you in advance for your assistance. The Panel looks forward to your formal response and would request that this is received by Tuesday 11th February 2025.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Catherine Curtis
Chair, Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel