Nursery Education Fund 2021: Approval of changes

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A decision made on 16 May 2021

Decision Reference: MD-ESC-2021-0005
Decision Summary Title :	Approval of changes to the Nursery Education Fund 2021		Date of Decision Summary:	23 March 2021
Decision Summary Author:	Private Secretary		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Approval of changes to the Nursery Education Fund 2021		Date of Written Report:	23 March 2021
Written Report Author:	Private Secretary		Written Report: Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Approval of changes to the Nursery Education Fund 2021
Decision(s): Noting the obligations on Accountable Officers under Article 39(1)(b) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019, the Minister for Education instructed the Accountable Officer to implement changes to the Nursery Education Fund (NEF) as set out in the attached report. This follows the announcement of this intention by the Minister for Education on 11 December 2020, supported by the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers. This policy change is supported by Government Plan 2020 and aligns with the Common Strategic Policy to “Put Children First”.
Reason(s) for Decision: Government Plan 2020 CSP1-2-02 Improving Educational Outcomes Programme - The Early Years Policy Development Board (EYPDB) approved additional revenue funding for Early Years proposals. The Minister has also taken into the account the views of his Ministerial colleagues as the Island’s elected leaders, and those of the States Assembly who approved the Common Strategic Policy and the 2020 Government Plan. Within the approved 2020 plan there was a commitment to “Continue to develop better-integrated support in the ‘early years’ (0 to 5), through the work of the Early Years Policy Development Board, starting with a reformed nursery education offer.”
Resource Implications: The estimated resource impact of this decision relies on assumptions around the numbers of children in the age range, the rate of take-up of nursery places and the balance of parental choice between school and private nurseries. These factors are subject to variation. The projected increase in expenditure compared to 2020 is an estimated £0.4m to £0.6m in 2021 with a full year effect of between £1.2m and £1.8m in 2022. Additional funding was agreed for the Nursery Education Fund in 2021 and indicatively for 2022 to 2024 in the Government Plan 2021-2024. The budget is projected to be sufficient to fund this initiative in 2021 but there is a risk of a budget shortfall between £100,000 to £600,000 in 2022 depending on actual demand and parental choices. The Minister will seek to resolve any predicted shortfall for 2022 onwards through the usual Government Plan process, or via other mechanisms, with the consent of the Treasury Minister. If these are unsuccessful the Minister acknowledges that any unbudgeted costs of this scheme will have to be met from within the agreed CYPES head of expenditure. In that event the Minister will consider for approval or otherwise, any measures presented to him by the department to manage any unbudgeted costs of this scheme within the overall departmental budget envelope agreed in the Government Plan.
Action required: The Director General of CYPES to ensure officials progress the necessary work to implement the changes for the start of term, September 2021.
Signature: Deputy Scott Wickenden		Position: Assistant Minister for Children and Education
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):