Childcare funding to be paid directly to parents

Parents of two to three year olds will be able to claim up to £6,100 per year to cover the cost of 15 hours a week of nursery

New childcare funding will be paid directly to parents, rather than nurseries, after ministers failed to reach an agreement with providers.

Parents of two to three year olds will be able to claim up to £6,100 per year to cover the cost of 15 hours a week of nursery care during term time, said the Government of Jersey.

However, fees will need to be paid upfront, before being claimed back by parents.

Education Minister deputy Rob Ward said it was the "conclusion of two years of work with groups coming together from the childcare sector and the government".

Officials predict 813 children will be eligible to benefit from January to July 2026 and a further 748 children will become eligible from September to December 2026.

Jersey Childcare Trust executive director Fiona Vacher said: "We're very pleased it's coming very quickly.

"It's what parents and children need in Jersey at the moment."

If approved in the government's budget, £3m would be set aside to pay for 15 hours of childcare a week for two and three year olds in the island.

Parents would need to pay the upfront cost of childcare and would then be able to apply for the money back using receipts and their social security number.

Jersey Childcare Trust executive director Fiona Vacher was pleased with the speed of funding

Mrs Vacher said: "We were surprised to hear the announcement, but equally delighted because this is a really good move where parents are actually benefiting.

"We were concerned it wouldn't happen because the sector weren't able to make that work, but actually this is a really clever way of tackling a problem."

The change in approach from the government comes after the Jersey Early Years Association said the plans were "not practical".

They claimed the rates of pay offered to carers was not enough to make the policy work, and the provision of 15 hours meant parents could not take on more work.

All but one member of the Jersey Early Years Association said the rate of £11 per hour set out in the budget was unviable and they would not participate in the scheme at that rate.