The Policy Centre Jersey has published a new policy report on early years support in Jersey.
High-quality early years provision – encompassing childcare, early education and family support in the first years of life – is a foundation public policy issue with long-term implications for children’s development, family wellbeing and economic participation.
International evidence shows that children’s learning and development before primary school has lasting impacts on educational attainment and future outcomes. Policy choices in this area shape school readiness, parental workforce participation and long-term productivity.
In Jersey, childcare costs are substantially higher than comparable parts of the UK, with average fees around 50% above those in England and about 12% above London levels. The high cost of childcare is a major barrier for families and shape patterns of participation in both work and education.
A notable demographic shift – a decline in births of almost 30% since 2016 – is also affecting demand for childcare and early education places and has implications for future capacity in primary schools.
The report finds that overall capacity in early years provision is sufficient but that affordability, rather than availability, is the central challenge for families.
Workforce pressures, driven by recruitment and retention challenges, increasing regulatory requirements and the high cost of living, threaten the sustainability of provision.
Jersey’s performance on school readiness appears weaker than in high-performing local authorities in southern England and below the government’s own targets, despite stronger outcomes later in primary education.
Recent policy developments – including the Government’s extension of financial support for 2–3-year-olds from January 2026 – will help with childcare costs but are unlikely alone to significantly change workforce participation without additional measures.
The report identifies several areas for policy consideration:
- Workforce recruitment and retention in early years settings
- The long-term sustainability of funding arrangements
- The balance of spending across age groups and life stages
- Competition between private providers and state primary schools
- Improving early intervention and school-readiness outcomes
The report concludes that there is a need for a coherent, long-term early years strategy that aligns funding, workforce policy, regulation and outcome-based goals, drawing on robust data and international best practice.
