The government has agreed to extend the pre-school voucher scheme to support nurseries, child minders and other child day care providers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This move will ensure that the children of all key workers will continue to be looked after during these unprecedented times and hopefully provide more clarity to nurseries who expressed concern they risk closure.

Minister for Education, Sport and Culture Dr Alex Allinson has committed to continuing to fund pre-school vouchers for all facilities closed or otherwise for all approved pre-school age children who are registered.

The government will also issue additional pre-school vouchers for pre-school age children where they move to a different pre-school provider that has remained open and pull forward third term payments for pre-school vouchers and pay these from 1 April onwards.

The voucher scheme will also be extended to the younger children (aged up to three-years-old) of key workers who attend approved child day care providers or child minders which are open. This provision will continue until emergency provisions are lifted.

Dr Allinson said: ’Schools, nurseries, child day care facilities and child minders have all stepped up to confront the health emergency we face.

’I have been massively impressed by their professionalism, dedication and flexibility. I hope this extra funding will help them support all our key workers as we work together to safeguard our island community.’

In order to access the additional extended pre-school vouchers for younger children of key workers, parents and carers need to email [email protected].

Those who qualify will be sent an application form to be completed and returned with a copy of a key worker letter from the employer. Once applications have been received an award letter will be sent out for parents and carers to give to their pre-school nursery or child minder.