Guernsey pre-school plans approved

Guernsey's politicians have agreed to plans to introduce free universal pre-school education for Guernsey and Alderney.

They approved the measures 27 to 15.

From September 2016 all children in Guernsey and Alderney will be entitled to 15 hours free pre-school provision a week for 38 weeks a year.

There was concern over the £2m annual cost, but Minister Robert Sillars said the figure would be paid back by the overall benefit to the island.

According to the department, 39% of the island's pre-school age children receive 15 hours or more of pre-school education a week and 94.4% attend some form of pre-school, nursery or private school before starting primary school.