A newly-privatised pre-school is set to close, Education Minister Tim Crookall told Tynwald.
Mr Crookall said the providers of the pre-school at Victoria Road School in Castletown have indicated they do not wish to continue beyond this year.
He said this was partly in response to competition as there are a number of other nurseries in Castletown.
But he there has also been a rapid increase in pupil numbers at Victoria Road School in the last couple of years with well over 50 children due in the reception class from September, a 100 per cent increase on two years ago.
The Minister said his department would therefore not be offering the space for lease for pre-school provision as it will provide additional space for reception groups instead.
Castletown MHK Richard Ronan said he was ‘disappointed’ with the news. He asked Mr Crookall: ‘This was a commitment by the Department of Education - would the Minister confirm that? Okay, the reception class at Victoria Road School has substantially increased – I should know as my own son is in it at the moment – but should he and his department not have factored this in beforehand?’
Mr Crookall replied that when the extension plans for Victoria Road School was presented to Tynwald, it was stated that the space was going to be used for a pre-school for as long as it was needed, and if not, it would go back into the school’s use.
Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas asked whether provision to accommodate a pre-school will be included in plans for a new primary school on the old Noble’s Hospital site which could be brought into use if there was a change of the current privatisation policy.
The Minister said he was led to believe there is provision in the area already.
He said since the pre-schools were privatised and a voucher scheme introduced, 88 per cent of next year’s reception children have benefited from pre-school care and education supported by the public purse.
A total of 664 families have accessed the standard credit amount £350 credit, and an additional 229 low income families have qualified for the higher rate of £1,150.