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Assistant Minister responds to calls from parents for more childcare spaces

23 August 2023

The Assistant Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Louise Doublet, has announced support for childminders in Jersey, to help address the current shortage of childcare places for children under three. 

This financial support aims to help incentivise people to become registered childminders, to create more spaces for childcare in the Island. 

Grants of up to £1,200 will be available per person to help with the set-up costs of becoming a registered childminder. This is in addition to support that the Government’s Childcare and Early Years Service, CEYS, already provides, including support with the registration process and access to training. 

Deputy Doublet has responsibility for Early Years and Families as part of her portfolio of work in her role. 

Assistant Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Louise Doublet, said: “I value the childcare sector in Jersey, which is varied and provides roles and expertise across nursery settings, childminders and accredited nannies. They offer parents and carers a valuable service, whether a parent prefers a nursery experience or a home-based setting for their child.” 

Funding will be made available to childminder applicants who are currently waiting to be registered and to future applicants. Additionally, up to £500 will be made available to each currently-registered childminder in Jersey, to enable them to manage the pressures of cost of living expenses associated with providing a high quality service. 

Speaking about the funding, Deputy Doublet said: “Listening to parents, carers and those who work in the important sector of childcare I have heard about the need for more childcare spaces and the financial hurdles to becoming a childminder. Whilst this will not solve all of these challenges in isolation, it is a step in the right direction. 

“Early Years are a hugely important part of a child’s development, and parents or carers want to know that if they choose a childminder for their child or children, they are in the best possible hands. It is advantageous if there is a strong pool of childminders, to provide high quality care and choice. Childminding is a rewarding and unique career which can benefit the whole community and I would urge anyone who has been thinking about registering as a childminder to consider coming forward.” 

Vice Chair of the Jersey Association of Childcarers (JACC), Christina Jandron, said: “The JACC are really excited about the prospect of funding that the Government of Jersey will be offering prospective childminders in the Island.

“This will be well received and the JACC will be there to provide quality childcare training to new childminders, to ensure the children of Jersey are getting the best quality homebased childcare and within the statutory requirements. We feel it’s a great incentive for the childminding community, and grateful our profession is held in such a high regard in bridging the current childcare shortage.”

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