Nursery care hike of £50 per week

Parents with children in full-time States nursery care will have to pay for part of the service from September - adding around £50 to their weekly bills.

At the moment parents receive 30 hours a week of free care, but that is to be lowered to 20.

But the Education Department says it is not a cut, it is to make the provision of child care fair across the island.

Overall, the Education Department has savings to make of £11 million by 2013.

Everything from closing the youth service to closing the library has been discussed.

There was uproar when reducing subsidies for fee paying schools were considered.

Currently, parents at States-run nurseries can claim up to 30 hours of free education whilst those at private nurseries can only claim 20.

From September though, that will change, and across the board parents will be able to claim 20 hours regardless of where their children are schooled.

The Education Department says this is to make nursery education fair for all and will safeguard the service for the future.

But parents might disagree - with States nurseries charging £4.78 per hour, putting your child in for that extra 10 hours will cost £47.80 per week

Jersey is already ahead of its neighbours in providing free nursery education - the UK only gives 15 hours free and Guernsey gives nothing.

And education bosses say that 20 hours is the right amount.

Education Minister James Reed said: "Obviously there is a saving to be had but I think the more important thing we have now made sure that the decision that was approved in the States in December 2008 now provides parents with a clear opportunity for choice whether it's in the States sector or the private sector in the knowledge that wherever their child is educated they will be provided the same support."

The new rules will be introduced in September in time for the new school year. For now, parents are left wondering how it will affect them - and if it is worth going to work. (from CTV)