'Free pre-school is not top priority'

We are also committed to all sectors of the community (be they government agencies, third sector, corporate or philanthropic) working together to realise this vision in the most effective, and so most efficient, way. Therefore, it would be a reasonable assumption that we would support the Education Department's current proposal for universal pre-school provision for three- to four-year-olds. The reality is that we are actually disappointed and frustrated with the proposals.

We agree that high quality pre-school should be part of a child's development: ensuring that children are 'school ready' allows them to benefit from the very start of their formal education, and pre-school attendance can be part of this preparation. But to accept that this is sufficient, or should be considered in isolation, is to miss the very significant opportunities that must be taken to positively change children's futures in the island. We agree that the Bailiwick has lagged behind other jurisdictions with regard to early years' provision and that we need to move quickly to remedy this omission. But we should learn from other jurisdictions' experiences and not just replicate a small part of the total possible provision. Rather, we should be aspirational and ambitious for our children, and the services that support them and their families, and most of all, we should work strategically, with a contribution from all relevant agencies.

We do not believe that 15 hours' pre-school provision for three- to four-year-olds is the priority initiative required to change outcomes for those children who are currently starting school unprepared and disadvantaged. It is our belief that intervention and targeted support needs to start much earlier in a child's life to have maximum impact. For example, independent research into a child's first two years (from conception onwards) clearly suggests that this is the critical time for development. This research has given rise to the recent UK cross-party '1001 days' manifesto to use best practice to guide suggested interventions in this period, and the manifesto recognises that without a focus on prevention and early intervention, the costs associated with managing negative childhood events will continue to rise. This is just one example of targeting support so that strategic intervention demonstrates positive outcomes for children in the most effective – and efficient – manner.

Following a successful conference organised by the Youth Commission in October 2013, highlighting the current issues facing services for children and young people in the Bailiwick and the need for unequivocal leadership in this area, we were delighted when the States of Guernsey committed to creating a world-class plan for children and young people. Taking advantage of the relative size of the islands and ability to quantify Bailiwick issues and the ground-breaking legislation of the 2008 Children's Law, the States proposed to develop a plan that would draw contributors from across all relevant departments and sectors.

This will result in a needs-driven, holistic strategy being delivered to the Assembly in early 2015. We wholly endorse this approach, commend the States on their aspirations, and have showed our commitment to assisting in the development of the plan through the provision of information, contributors and resources.

Our disappointment and frustration arises from the Education Department choosing to move forward with a single initiative prior to any consideration of the holistic early years' provision that should result from the current drafting of the children and young people's plan, which the Education Department is a key part of. Will other departments now unilaterally follow suit with their own projects? It is paramount that we focus on delivering a cohesive, evidence-based plan that embeds initiatives that are needed to ensure that our interventions affect not just this generation but the next.

In an ideal world, perhaps we would all want universal pre-school provision. But in the real world we must consider what is needed, not just what is wanted.

We would strongly urge the States to consider all the priorities in this area, before blindly proceeding with universal pre-school provision as its top priority. This needs to be done so that we can more effectively use limited resources to break the cycle for those whose childhoods mean they are more likely to underachieve educationally and suffer mental and physical health problems and are less likely to realise their potential.

There is every opportunity for a very fresh approach to holistic services for all young people in the Bailiwick but this requires independent States departments to think differently and be willing to work in partnership with others.

A further tangible benefit of such a fresh approach will be securing savings that can fund additional prioritised services: providing an economic argument in addition to the moral one, to grasp this opportunity for a positive step change in the Bailiwick's future.

JANE ST PIER and

WAYNE BULPITT.