This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

DECISIONS about nursery education must be made before any primary schools are closed, according to Deputy Jean Pritchard. The former Education board member said the future of La Mare de Carteret and St Andrew’s primaries and St Sampson’s Infants should not be considered in isolation when the island still had no provision for nursery education.

‘You cannot look at closing primary schools without looking at how we are going to deliver nursery education.

‘Education itself has made the move to look at nursery education,’ she said.

‘It’s more than just closing certain schools - I think it’s an issue of nursery education as well.

‘I don’t think you can do something in isolation. There is more to this than meets the eye.’

Deputy Pritchard said she was shamed by the lack of nursery-level provision.

‘I feel passionate about it and I am embarrassed we don’t do anything about it because we are a relatively wealthy island,’ she said.

‘There have been so many reports about the benefits of educating children at an early age. We need these provisions within primary schools so children are familiar with the schools they are going to go to.

‘A lot of people want nursery education, including teachers and parents.’

She said financial constraints meant it was inevitable the department was going to have to make cuts.

‘But I really think you cannot close schools without consultation,’ said Deputy Pritchard.

‘Take the Forest School - that was going to be closed years ago. We have to talk to parents, future parents and the community as well.’

She said the possible closure of St Andrew’s and St Sampson’s Infants had been an issue for years. It was now time for people to make decisions, but with the correct information and not in isolation.