The Department of Education and Children has announced which private operators will lease its pre-school facilities.
In the Budget in February, the Department announced it would cease to provide pre-school education from the end of the summer term.
The Department advertised for expressions of interest from new and established providers seeking to lease premises.
Following a selection process, it has been agreed to lease out facilities as follows:
Ashley Hill Mooinjer Veggey
Auldyn Stepping Stones
Ballacottier Mooinjer Veggey
Ballasalla Mooinjer Veggey
Cronk-y-Berry Sandcastles Kindergarten
Manor Park Mooinjer Veggey
Peel Clothworkers Busy Bears Nursery
St John’s St John’s Pre-School Trust
Victoria Road Nursery at Victoria Road School
Willaston Mooinjer Veggey
The private operators for each site will be taking the necessary steps to register their settings with the Department of Social Care and to advertise the services they are able to offer and parents should contact them direct to secure places.
As has been reported previously, no provider came forward for Jurby but the Department is in discussions with a third party about this and is still hopeful that there will be pre-school provision in place for September.
One offer came forward for Bride but this was not based on the specification provided. In discussion with that provider, it became clear that the Bride site is not economically viable unless it can be offered on different terms.
Given that this site ceases to be a school in September, the DEC has decided to re-advertise it for nursery/pre-school use but on more flexible terms, which reflect the fact that it is an independent building. The DEC is hopeful that this will lead to a successful letting.
The creation of a Government-funded credit system towards pre-school places was announced in March by the Council of Ministers’ working party on pre-school provision.
All parents will be eligible for ?350 credit towards the cost of nursery places, with an additional ?800 for those eligible for free school meals – ie in receipt of Employed Persons’ Allowance, Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers’ Allowance.
The Government’s Customer First team will be administering the credit scheme and will shortly be in a position to publish information about how parents will be able to access it.
