Childcare
If you’re moving with a family including young children, you may need to arrange childcare. There are a number of childcare options in the island:
| Centre care | For babies up to the age of 12 years in a registered setting. There’s a manager in charge of the team of staff who care for the children. |
|---|
| Childminders | Self-employed carers who usually care for children in their own home and who need to be registered with a regulatory authority. Childminders care for children from babies to 12 years and provide full day or term times only or all year round care and learning. |
|---|
| Crèches | Provide irregular temporary childcare that can be used on an ad-hoc basis. |
|---|
| Nannies or au pairs | They don’t need to be a registered childcare provider and childcare is arranged privately. |
|---|
Centre care options
Within centre care, there are three types of settings:
| Day nurseries | Offer care and education for children from their first year of life until they enter full-time education. Day nurseries are open all year round, usually only closing on public holidays. The opening hours are to fit the needs of working parents. |
|---|
| Preschools | For children from 2 years of age to school entry age, who are toilet trained. Preschools offer childcare and education on a sessional basis of up to 5 hours - usually in the morning. However, some preschools also offer afternoon sessions. Most follow school term-time hours of opening, but some offer the facility during the school holidays. |
|---|
| School-age care | For children attending nursery classes and full-time education, up to the age of 12 years. There are 3 types of school age settings:
- wrap around care for children attending nursery classes
- play care for children who are in full time education
- activity clubs for children of school age during school holidays
|
|---|
Registering for childcare
It is not compulsory for children under 5 to be in nursery or childcare, however you can
register for a school nursery place at any time. For most parents places are allocated based on the date that you register so the earlier you apply the better chance you have of getting a place.
Providing your child is with a registered child care provider, you can claim tax relief against your childcare costs.
Free nursery hours
Your child can get up to 30 free hours per week of Government-funded nursery education in the school year that they turn four years old. These free hours are term time only (over 38 weeks) and start from the beginning of the school year (September). You can apply for a free place at a Government primary school nursery or in a NEF-registered nursery in the private or voluntary sector once you have accepted a nursery place. Further information is available at
free early learning for your child.
Schools in Jersey
Jersey has 22 non-fee paying Government’ primary schools and 5 non-fee paying Government secondary schools. In addition to these non-fee paying schools, there are several fee-paying Government and private schools on the island. Fees for these vary from school to school.
| Primary | 22 | 2 | 5 |
| Preparatory (4 to 11 years)* | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Preparatory (4 to 14 years) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Secondary (11 to 16 years) | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary (14 to 18 years) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary (11 to 18 years) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Post 16 education | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Academic and vocational further education (16+) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Schools catering for children with special needs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
*prepares students for boarding schools outside of Jersey
List of primary schools
List of secondary schools
Catchment areas
There are 22 primary schools and four secondary school catchment areas.
You should register with your catchment school. Parents may request up to three schools in order of preference. If a school is oversubscribed, there is a priority order for applications.
Applying for a school
Primary or secondary school catchment area online map
Applying for a Government school place
In Jersey children must legally attend school from the school year in which they turn five up to 30 June of the school year in which they turn 16. To apply for a Government school place complete the school admission form.
You'll be asked to upload:
- proof of your address in Jersey
- proof of your child's identity
- proof of both parent's identities
- your child's birth certificate
Finding and applying for a school
If you need help contact +44(0)1534 449199 or
email school admissions.
Applying for a private school place
Fee-paying and private schools manage their own admissions. For a place you must apply directly to the school.
Private primary school websites
Jersey College Preparatory School
Victoria College for Boys Preparatory School
Beaulieu Convent School
De La Salle College
FCJ Primary School
Helvetia House School
St George's Preparatory School
St Michael's Preparatory School
Private secondary school websites
Jersey College for Girls
Victoria College (for boys)
Beaulieu Convent School (for girls)
De La Salle College (for boys)
Post 16: full-time education options
Your child’s compulsory education comes to an end post 16, finishing year 11. Full-time learning options available post 16, include traditional academic courses such as AS, A2, International Baccalaureate and vocational courses such as BTEC, NVQ and City & Guilds.
| Beaulieu Convent School | AS, A2 | Yes | Mixed |
| De La Salle College | AS, A2 | Yes | Male-only |
| Hautlieu School | AS, A2, International Baccalaureate | No | Mixed |
| Highlands College | BTEC, NVQ, City & Guilds | Some course fees apply | Mixed |
| Jersey College for Girls | AS, A2 | Yes | Female-only |
| Victoria College | AS, A2 | Yes | Male-only |
Applying for post 16 options
Each school or college has their own entry requirements, which must be met by the student. You should contact the individual school, or college on behalf of your child when want to apply or ask your child to speak to their school careers teacher for details.
List of secondary schools
Course and school fees are charged by some of the establishments. For details of fees and information on scholarships and bursaries available, contact the individual school or college for more details.
The application process for all schools and colleges on the island begins during the autumn term of year 11 and involves the following stages:
- applications to Highlands College and Hautlieu school are made through a central online application system; required information can be provided by the current school your child attends
- Beaulieu, De La Salle, Jersey College for Girls and Victoria College have independent application processes. See each website for details
- references are normally completed by your child’s teachers during the spring term
- your child may be invited to attend an interview during the spring or summer term
- places are normally confirmed (subject to achieving the required GCSE grades) by June of the year of application
16 to 24 year olds careers information
Post 16 work and training
Get advice to help on post 16 working options in the island, through Skills Jersey. They help in preparing for work and find out where to look for jobs and local training schemes. They also offer a wide range of services including:
- confidential and impartial careers guidance to people of all ages
- links between schools, colleges, universities, industry and other education training providers
- mentoring
- apprenticeships
- work placements
- work shadowing schemes
Preparing for work and training
gov.je