JERSEY CHILD CARE TRUST

Friday, 8 September 2006

CALL FOR STATES TO AGREE CLEAR POLICY ON
CHILD CARE PROVISION
Comptroller & Auditor General issues second report

The Comptroller & Auditor General, Chris Swinson OBE, has issued a Report on the Jersey Child Care Trust (The ‘Trust’) as requested by its officials.

Key findings in the Report, issued today, highlight a lack of cohesive government strategy on child care provision in the Island, and a continued lack of direction for the Trust under States policy.

The Report calls for a clear States policy on the way forward for child care in Jersey, including a redefinition of the Trust’s core strategic objectives in line with Education, Sport and Culture strategy, to enable it to refocus its activities in support of child care provision in the Island.

Recommendations are also made for various models of organisation which the Trust could adopt, but which are also dependant on government direction.

The funding arrangements for the Trust have been examined by Mr Swinson. He concludes that, whilst it has been predominantly supported by the States to date, the Trust must now consider seeking additional means of funding. It receives a small grant from Children in Need, and has recently been granted £50,000 over two years from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for the Channel Islands. The Comptroller & Auditor General hopes these kinds of funding arrangements will be developed, in addition to States funding.

Commenting upon his findings, Chris Swinson said:
“My research indicates that the Trust has made every endeavour to meet the broad range of requirements placed upon it, which has inevitably led to some conflict due to the uncertainty of its true function as laid down by the States.

“It has addressed the issues highlighted by the Spratt report of 2004 and, even working under conflicting objectives, the Trust has amended its constitution, sought to identify areas of duplication with Education, Sport and Culture and other agencies, and has attempted to reduce operational costs, including a move to States owned premises.

“However, in order for it to now move most effectively forward, there needs to be a clearer definition by the States of its role in the provision of child care services and support in the Island”.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The review was requested by its officials examined the Trust’s constitution, financial statements and records.
The review involved discussions with the Director, Chairman, Treasurer and other Trustees, as well as the Assistant Director of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture with responsibility for managing the Department’s relationship with the Trust, representatives of organisations involved in the provision of childcare in Jersey, and parents who had used the Trust’s services.
Following a working party report on childcare in 1996 which highlighted a lack of resources for the provision of childcare facilities and support in the Island, the Trust was initially set up:
“…to co-ordinate, promote and facilitate child care provision in the Island and…supported by funds from the States to encourage the expansion of childcare”. [and which would involve]
“Production of a detailed business, action plan and budget for child care provision for consideration by the States [and] Co-ordination of child care provision….”
Having adopted a five year strategy in 2002, the Trust’s activities were then reviewed in 2004 by Jenny Spratt, who conducted an overall review of child care arrangements within the Island at the request of Education, Sport and Culture.
The Spratt Report highlighted the lack of an overall States strategy for integrated education and child care, a lack of government investment in early education and child care services; and also recommended a refocusing of the Trust’s core objectives, to fall more in line with its original intended purpose.
Following the Spratt Report, the Trust has endeavoured to refocus its activities on its original intentions, as envisaged both by the Spratt review and the 2005 Vision Statement under the new Ministerial Government (published in July 2005).
This consultation paper, however, in contrast to the earlier responsibilities of the Trust as laid out in 1996, proposed that:
“The Jersey Child Care Trust would become a more powerful champion for quality and focus on raising income to support child care, encouraging the development of family friendly policies in the work place and providing information to the States, parents and partners.”
The Report also highlights that this long term policy statement was presented to the States in July 2005, but no proposition was debated.
It is only subsequent to the introduction of Ministerial Government that the importance of investment in children has been recognised through the Council of Minister’s Strategic Plan, but at present there is no clearly identified way of financing the investment envisaged by the Vision Statement.
A review of childcare has since been announced, in August of this year, by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture.

For further information/ interview, please contact:
Chris Swinson, OBE
Comptroller & Auditor General
T: 07771 947771

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