Will lessons be learnt on when we start school?

Monday 25 January 2016

You can have your say tonight on when you’d like to see your little one start school.

There’s an open meeting tonight at St Pauls Centre for parents, teachers and anyone who thinks there should be more choice around the starting date of children’s education in Jersey.

Children in Jersey and the UK start school younger than most other places in the world and tonight’s meeting is being organised by the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel who are reviewing local legislation and policies to make sure they are socially, emotionally and developmentally appropriate for our youngsters.

Chair of the Panel Deputy Louise Doublet said: “This review is all about finding out what is best for young children in Jersey.

The Panel would like to see if children are getting the things they need from our education system to help them flourish through their early years and beyond.

Our children deserve the very best and to achieve that, we need to listen to the parents. Every opinion is important, whether people think there should be changes or that things are right as they are - the Panel is here to listen to all views.

I believe the teachers and the Education Department do a wonderful job, however if changes in the age children can start school would benefit the children, then we need to bring that to the attention of the Minister for Education.

The panel is looking at what impact being born in the summer has on children as they progress through school and what benefits they would have if they started later.

Deputy Doublet said: “Given that there have been significant policy changes in the UK in this area recently giving parents the option to hold their child back a year, and the school starting age in Jersey is so young compared with most other countries, this review is very relevant and timely.

“Our public meeting is an opportunity to hold open and frank discussions about the best that there can be for our children. So I ask parents, teachers, and anyone interested in the welfare and education of young children in Jersey to come along and be involved in this scrutiny review.”

Professor Elizabeth Wood, a professor of education from the University of Sheffield who specializes in the progression and continuity in early years, is helping the Panel with the review and will be at Monday night’s meeting.

The Panel plan to give their feedback to the Education Minister at a Public hearing on 21 March.

Meanwhile Monday's meeting starts at St Pauls Centre at 7.30 pm.