Free pre-school offer planned for Alderney

Thursday 13 June 2019

Education has announced its intention to launch free pre-school provision at St Anne's, Alderney, in order to provide equal education opportunities across the whole Bailiwick.

Parents in Guernsey receive 15 hours free pre-school entitlement and the plan is to introduce a similar offer to families in Alderney.

Education Sport & Culture made the decision after reviewing the early years education and childcare offering in the northern isle.

With effect from September 2019, ESC President Matt Fallaize said it was their "intention" to offer a pre school session at St. Anne’s School where children can access their 15 hours Pre School Education Funding.

An island-wide questionnaire in Alderney highlighted concerns over the quality of pre-school provision, the limited facilities available at the Island Hall and the need for long term development of services. 

"Our direction to officers to get as quickly as possible a free school offer through St Anne’s. We have assured the officers that we will support any changes to buildings or staff that are necessary to deliver that," said Deputy Fallaize. "and have invited officers to come back to us to advise how best to bring that about.

"There have been discussions and our officers and relevant people in Alderney this week and our expectation is that they will come back to the committee relatively soon with some firmer plans for how to deliver a quality pre-school offer." 

"We as a committee want to make sure as far as possible that Alderney have the same opportunities as their counterparts in Guernsey have. At the moment there is a substantial difference in this area [pre-school offer]."