Monday 11 February 2019
In March 2018, the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture confirmed that the 15 hours free Pre-School Education Funding is to be a permanent offer in the Bailiwick.
This gives children up to 15 hours of free Pre-School Education per week, term time only, in the year before they start primary school. This entitlement is for parents/carers who have a joint income under the threshold of £150,000 per year.
Children whose birthday falls between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016 are able to access the Pre-School Education Funding to begin in September 2019.
Parents/carers can take up their children's funding in a flexible way, a maximum of 8 hours can be taken in one day and the 15 hours can be split across two Early Years Providers if necessary.
In order to take up the funding, parents/carers need to contact their chosen Pre-School or Day Nursery and complete a Parent Declaration Form confirming how many hours they would like their child to attend each week. The completed form is returned and signed along with either their child's birth certificate or passport to confirm their identification. The Parent Declaration Forms are available online at www.gov.gg/SEYT or directly from the Provider. The Providers will claim the Pre-School Education Funding directly from the States of Guernsey.
Children are able to change Providers throughout the year, but in order to ensure that the Pre-School Education Funding can follow the child, a six weeks' notice is required. Therefore parental declaration forms need to be given to Providers by Friday 7th June 2019 to secure your child's place at your chosen Pre-School/ Day Nursery from September 2019.
Please contact your chosen Provider as soon as possible, to ensure you are able to access your child's 15 hours Free Pre-School Education Funding in the Autumn Term 2019.
Further information including 'frequently asked questions' and a list of all the current Early Years Providers offering the Pre-School Education Funding can be found online at www.gov.gg/seyt
