Guernsey pre-school funding 'hits brick wall'

Education proposals have been opposed by both the treasury and social security departments

Plans on how to fund pre-school education in Guernsey have "hit a brick wall", according to the island's Education Minister Robert Sillars.

The Education Department has suggested the £2.21m needed annually should be generated by a reduction in family allowance and a transformation fund.

However, Treasury Minister Gavin St Pier said this was "not an appropriate use" of the fund.

The States will vote on Education's proposed funding structure next month.

Last year the States approved the principle of providing pre-school education for all, with 15 hours per week for the equivalent of 38 weeks a year for all 3 and 4-year-olds from September 2016.

Treasury opposed that decision believing it was "not best use of public money for a service which already had a 90% take up".

'Not possible'

Deputy Sillars said: "We have tried to reach some agreement with Treasury and Resources over the past year or so but unfortunately we have hit a brick wall.

"However, we still believe that the introduction of this universal entitlement to 15 hours a week of quality pre-school education for all children in the year before they start school will bring real benefits, both for the children and their families and the economy in general."

Deputy St Pier said: "We have tried to find a common position, but it's just not been possible to achieve."

He said the Transition and Transformation Fund was set up for money-saving changes to the government structure and was specifically not for new projects or programmes.

The Social Security Department is opposed to the proposed 15% reduction in family allowance.

"The department cannot see the case for overlaying a universal entitlement to free pre-school education on a system where the great majority of parents currently appear to be paying without significant problems," it said in a letter.