Nursery funding: "delay...does not help parents planning for the future"

Wednesday 30 November 2016

Parents can't plan for the future if they don't know whether they'll have to fork out for their children to go to nursery, according to the Jersey Early Years Association.

It says the year's delay on means-testing nursery funding might help parents next year but they can't plan long-term.

The Association Chairperson Val Payne said: "Many parents have been very confused and upset by the means testing issue and this delay may help parents for this year but does not help parents planning for the future."

Earlier this week Education announced the controversial plans were on hold so that workable systems can be implemented. Education Minister Rod Bryans defended the delay, insisting he is very much in favour of means-testing, but more consultation was required.

Under the proposals, families with a household income of more than £100,000 a year would no longer be eligible for free nursery eduction in either the public or proivate sector. Families earning between £85,000 and £100,000 would receive a portion of the free hours.

Deputy Bryan said: “Since the States debate there have been discussions with the Early Years Childhood Partnership (EYCP), which includes representatives of private nurseries. We will be working together on a broader strategy for the future of early years but are also discussing the immediate funding problem.

“The budget for the Nursery Education Fund has been exceeded previously but we have been able to cover the shortfall from other parts of the department’s finances. This will not be possible in future without affecting other education services and schools, so we still need to introduce means-testing.

“However, it has become clear that adding school nurseries makes the implementation of means-testing more complicated because it involves two separate systems of administration. I have decided to delay the introduction for one year because of the extra work required and to allow for consultation with head teachers.”

Mrs Payne said: "Jersey Early Years Association (JEYA) is pleased that the Education department has postponed means testing while further information is gathered by Early Years and Childhood Partnership (EYCP). However, the newly reformed EYCP is in its infancy and its remit is very broad ranging; the Nursery Education Fund (NEF) is not currently on the agenda."

The States Assembly decided in September to approve means-testing of the nursery grant, under which £3,914 per child is paid to private nurseries to provide 20 hours of free education during term time for a year. The States also decided that parents who use nursery education in States primary schools should also be means-tested.

Mrs Payne said there's a meeting next week to get the views of all the Association's members before they make any further comment on the issue.