Parents to get 50% increase in free nursery education for kids

Friday 11 December 2020

The government has announced plans for a 50% increase in free nursery education, from 20 hours to 30 hours.

The proposals, which concern children aged three and four, are intended to come into effect in September 2021.

The Education Minister, Senator Tracey Vallois, says she will work with the Department of Children, Young People, Education and Skills, head teachers and the Jersey Early Years Association to get the change in place. 

Currently, families in Jersey can get 20 hours of subsidised nursery education for children aged three to four.

Pictured: Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois said she hoped the extra support would ease some of the pressures of this year. 

The changes were first suggested by the  Early Years Policy Development Board in the proposed Government Plan, which has currently set aside £5.7m for Early Years. 

Senator Vallois said: “I am delighted to announce that we plan to extend the 20 free hours of free nursery education to 30 free hours. This has been an extraordinarily difficult year for many families so I hope that this news of extra support for nursery education will help to ease some of those pressures.  

“Evidence shows that in the early year, pre-school experience positively impacts on children’s socialisation, language development and behaviour, reducing the potential anxiety surrounding starting school through better transition opportunities and getting to know families.

“The Council of Ministers is committed to putting children first, as set out in the Common Strategic Policy. I would like to thank all the the Early Years Policy Development Board for their hard work in helping to devise new and sustainable plans to prioritise and fund early years in the future.”