A REVIEW aimed at resolving a dispute involving Jersey’s educational psychologists has been delayed a second time, despite assurances from the government that it would be carried out “at pace”.
The States Employment Board commissioned the review in response to claims by the Association of Educational Psychologists that the Island was an “unsafe” place to work, and that it would no longer recommend Jersey as an “appropriate or safe place” to members.
Having pledged during a sitting of the States Assembly in November that the review would be carried out “at pace” and completed in December, Assistant Chief Minister Malcolm Ferey this week explained to the JEP why this had not yet happened.
“Soon after starting, it was realised that the scope was wider and deeper than originally envisaged,” he said. “It was necessary to make sure that the report itself was sufficiently in-depth to match the scale of the issues raised.
“We know there are people waiting on the outcome, and when we have the report we will take steps to implement the recommendations as soon as possible.”
The delay was highlighted during a recent hearing of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, with Education Minister Rob Ward admitting that it was now expected to be completed in February.
The minister was asked about arrangements to cover the service provided by the educational psychologists, who are employed to support children with special educational needs; he said that he was pleased to note a reduction in waiting times from 55 working days during 2023-24 to 19 days so far in the current academic year.
Deputy Ward said: “We’re going in the right direction, even with the difficulties that we have, accommodation has been put in place to try to keep the service going.
“That’s no comment on where we are with the report or what we’re doing, but we hope at the end we can come out with some positives.”
The AEP said in November there had been a “failure” to “deal appropriately” with concerns raised by educational psychologists, with the situation being described as “deeply worrying” by the children’s commissioner, Dr Carmel Corrigan.
