Pre-Schools

Pre-school education in the Bailiwick is predominantly provided by the private sector. There are few purpose-built settings and many pre-schools use premises such as church halls for their activities.

The law currently requires children who reach the age of five before 1 September in a particular year to attend school for the next academic year. However, we have agreed that children who reach the age of four years on or before 31 August may also start school from the beginning of the academic year, if accommodation and staffing levels allow.

These four and five year olds are accepted into their catchment school's Reception classes (Year R).

Many children attend private pre-schools before starting school.

The Health and Social Services Department is responsible for the registration of all private pre-schools and also regularly inspects and monitors all settings that accept children under the age of 5 years.

The Education Board recognises that a high quality early years experience provides a firm foundation on which to build future academic, social and emotional success. The provision of a universal entitlement to free, quality, pre-school provision for up to 15 hours per week is one of the Board's main priorities for development. Any such universal entitlement would be delivered through a partnership with private providers.

We are currently working with private pre-school providers on the details of introducing such a scheme. This will include the development of a curriculum framework and quality standards as well as looking at training requirements for staff and helpers and the funding necessary to run such a scheme.

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