How could ESC spend an additional £5m?

Wednesday 15 June 2022

The States will be asked later this year to provide £5m in additional funding to ESC through the updated Government Work Plan. The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has now come forward to explain how it would use this money.

The initiatives include additional support for disadvantaged learners and a SENco (special educational needs coordinator) to work across pre-schools.

The initiatives were developed after teachers and school staff in States Education settings completed a survey.

The President of ESC, Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, said: “On behalf of the Committee I want to thank all staff who supported this work by providing valuable feedback via a recent values assessment survey, which not only influenced further development of our Education Strategy, but also our proposed programme of COVID recovery workstreams and activities.”

Pictured: Deputy Dudley-Owen said: “A little under 900 staff, out of workforce of about 1,200, participated in [the survey].”

Feedback included a need for more resources to ensure students receive support, both academically and personally.

If the States support the proposals in the GWP, ESC says it will put in place:

-       Additional support for disadvantaged or affected learners within core subjects such as maths and English 

-       A SENco (special educational needs coordinator) to work across pre-schools and the early years phases 

-       Development of additional interventions for children presenting with mental health and wellbeing needs 

-       Additional Learning Support Assistants to work within early years, primary and secondary phases 

-       Family support workers and Learning Mentors within the secondary and post 16 sectors to work with students and families where challenges exist

-       Provision of additional language and literacy support within the primary sector

The Director of Education, Nick Hynes, said: “As educationalists we will always say that every pound spent to benefit children and young people is a pound well spent for the benefit of the island and its future. 

“A significant part of the additional funding, if it’s agreed by the States, will go towards a variety of work streams over the next three years that we’re referring to as our Covid bounce back plan – activities which are completely aligned with the priorities and commitments of our Education Strategy.”