A GROUP of St John’s School parents have been offered the lease of St John’s Pre-School, which they intend to run as a ‘not-for-profit’ charitable trust.
Education chiefs have announced the private operators that will lease each of its pre-school facilities.
In the Budget in February, the Department of Education and Children announced it would stop providing pre-school education from the end of the summer term. It advertised for expressions of interest from providers seeking to lease premises.
Following a selection process, it has agreed to lease out the facilities at Ashley Hill, Ballacottier, Ballasalla, Manor Park and Willaston to Mooinjer Veggey, an educational charity that helps run the Manx Gaelic School at St John’s.
Stepping Stones will run Auldyn’s pre-school, Sandcastles Kindergarten will take over at Cronk-y-Berry and Busy Bears Nursery has won the lease for Peel Clothworkers, while the nursery at Victoria Road School will take over the pre-school.
At St John’s, the lease of the pre-school has been offered to the St John’s Pre-School Trust which is made up of four parents, all of whom have, or have had, children attending the facility. They are advocate Ailsa Dennett, chartered accountant Alison Jones, local business owner Kista Martin and Anthony Page, a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
The parents will each act as trustees and have confirmed they will appoint a minimum of two suitably qualified part–time staff to run the facility on a day to day basis. Initially it will be mornings only but afternoon sessions could be provide in future. The trustees said fees would be kept to a minimum but they would be seeking outside funding to help support children who may not otherwise have access to those fees.
Nigel Bennett, head teacher of St John’s School, said: ‘We are delighted with today’s announcement. I very much look forward to working with the Trust.’
Under a government-funded credit system, parents will be entitled to £350 credit towards the cost of nursery places, with an additional £800 for those eligible for free school meals. Details on how to access the credit scheme will be announced shortly.
