A nursery at Springfield Stadium was offered “a lot of assistance” by the government to stay open before its owners decided to close it, the Education Minister said.

Deputy Catherine Curtis said several issues had contributed to the closure of Leeward Busy Bees, as she faced questions about whether Jersey’s childcare providers could meet demand during a meeting with the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel yesterday.

Leeward Busy Bees Nursery told parents at short notice that it would shut at the end of October. Its baby room had remained open after recruitment problems forced its toddler and pre-school rooms to close last year.

Assistant Education Minister Lucy Stephenson said yesterday that she understood all affected children had now moved to other childcare places, mainly within the same nursery group.

Deputy Curtis explained that the nursery was part of a national business whose owners had to decide what worked best for them.

“They were offered a lot of assistance from the department to continue, but in the end, it’s their decision whether they close or not,” she said.

The minister did not detail what assistance had been offered.

Deputy Stephenson said the latest survey of childcare providers had shown they expected to increase capacity by September 2026, while a new nursery had opened that month.

However, she acknowledged that the availability of childcare varied across the Island.

“We’re not saying there is choice for everybody all of the time at every single age group in every location as well,” she said.

Highlighting the limited number of nurseries in the west, she said changing working patterns since the pandemic had also affected what families needed.

“It’s not all about just nurseries in St Helier anymore as well,” she said.

Staffing remained a recognised challenge, Deputy Stephenson said, with providers reporting an increase in part-time working and difficulties recruiting staff with certain levels of childcare qualifications.

She said examining training routes and support through Highlands was among the questions she wanted to pursue.

Officials told the panel that the early years advisory service already provided evening and Saturday training, alongside visits to individual nurseries to offer support and advice.

Deputy Curtis said a review of the childcare legislation was also examining whether some requirements were unnecessary.

“We’re looking to see how we can make it easier for private nurseries to operate as well to a very high standard,” she explained.

The panel also questioned whether the government’s childcare funding scheme could guarantee families a place.

The scheme allows parents of two-to-three-year-olds to apply for up to £6,445 towards care with a registered private nursery, registered childminder or accredited nanny.

An official said there were no current plans to change eligibility, although the way payments were administered would be reviewed before the pilot reached its two-year mark.

The funding itself was recurring, the panel heard, with the government hoping that greater financial certainty would encourage providers to expand despite workforce challenges.