Deputy Jeremy Maçon – who took over the role of Education Minister last week – said that he was meeting relevant groups to discuss whether there should be an increase in free nursery hours from 20 to 30 from September, as promised by the previous minister, Senator Tracey Vallois.
The uncertainty has left some parents anxious about budgeting for the next school year, as they remain unsure how many hours of free nursery education they may receive.
After being urged by fellow States Members – including the former Children’s Minister, Senator Sam Mézec – to provide a clear answer and uphold Senator Vallois’s decision, the Deputy has hit back at accusations that he had ‘refused’ to address the issue.
Deputy Maçon said: ‘There has been no refusal, as it has been suggested, to commit to providing 30 free hours of nursery funding.
‘I am committed to meet with all stakeholders, including the Jersey Early Years Association, before we move to implementation.’ Deputy Maçon said that he had meetings planned this week and would ‘communicate the next steps, as soon as possible, so that parents and carers can make the necessary plans they need for childcare and work purposes’.
He added that it was ‘imperative’ that the views of those working in the sector were considered, and that he would be publishing the full report on the work of the Early Years Policy Development Board to help ‘reflect’ on the appropriate recommendations, ‘to ensure that the policy proposals we move forward with are the right ones for the children and families here in Jersey’.
‘We know that high-quality early-childhood education provides a solid foundation for children’s future learning, giving them the best start in life, and it is vital that we create a provision that responds to the needs of children, parents and the sector,’ he said.
However, Deputy Louise Doublet – who has been encouraging families with children starting nursery this year to write to Deputy Maçon about the issue – said that the minister had not given reassurances that he was firmly maintaining the Senator’s commitment.
‘It has created a lot of disruption,’ she said. ‘I would like to see some clarity from the new minister that he is confident that he can deliver on the increase in hours, as the previous minister was,’ she said.
Belinda Lewis, who chairs the Jersey Early Years Association, said the organisation ‘appreciated’ that Deputy Maçon wished to meet them.
‘We know that he will work directly with us as he said he would, and we look forward to it. We do support him wholeheartedly in his attempts to ensure that every stakeholder is consulted.’
