Childminders included in 15 funded hours for toddlers

Jersey's Education Minister says the extra £20M his department's set to get next year will go on addressing teachers' workloads and giving parents with younger children some free childcare.

If the States Assembly agrees, funded nursery hours will be extended to two and three years old.

Parents will get 15 hours a week during term-time from January 2026.

For the first time, childminders will be included, alongside nursery settings.

The existing provision under the Nursery Education Fund (NEF) offers up to 30 free hours a week during term-time in the year a child turns four.

Education Minister Rob Ward has described it as a 'really good stating point'.

"It is a huge step forward. It includes childminders, who aren't included in the NEF.  That is why we are referring to it as a universal offer, which is a really good step forward."

There will also be help for some families with back to school costs, such as with buying uniform.

"It is about increasing access to education.  That is money well-spent because the better we have for our children in the beginning, the more they will succeed."

The 2026 Budget allocates a total of £246m to Education next year, £20m more than last year.

Deputy Ward says some of that will be used to address teachers' workloads.

"It is the first time we have actually obtained real money towards that, so we can start that process.

We can start to address (lesson) planning time, and the time that is available for staff to do all the work around teaching.  There is a lot of work to be done there."

Education's budget includes money to continue 'feasibility work' on a new town school at Gas Place and rebuilding Mont à L’Abbé Secondary school.

The government says this will expand the provision of care for children with moderate to severe learning difficulties.

A single combined primary and secondary campus will becomes a 'specialised hub' for ages 0-25 as well as respite care.

There is also provision in the budget to develop the new North of St Helier Youth Club on the site of the former Ann Street Brewery, and a new youth centre at Le Squez.

Read: Rooftop pitch and climbing wall planned for new St Helier youth centre

Ministers have also pledged long-term investment in building a central campus for Highlands College by 2032.

Read more about the 2026 Budget proposals here.