Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel publishes legacy report
Scrutiny
17 April 2026
The Children, Education and Home Affairs (CEHA) Scrutiny Panel has today published its legacy report, summarising the work the Panel has undertaken over the last four years. The report also outlined suggested areas for future scrutiny, and where government should continue policy development.The Panel is one of five scrutiny panels working on behalf of the States Assembly to examine and investigate the work of the Government of Jersey. This is achieved through reviews of government policy, new laws and changes to existing laws, work and expenditure of the government, and issues of public importance.
The Panel’s remit crosses several Ministerial portfolios, including the Minister for Children and Families, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs.
Between 2022 – 2026, the Panel:
- Met 260 times
- Presented 39 comments papers
- Produced 5 reports, with 232 findings and 127 recommendations
- Lodged 8 amendments, with 7 of those adopted
- Sent over 65 letters to Ministers, public bodies and stakeholders
- Held 60 public hearings
- Attended 36 site visits, including schools, youth clubs, and emergency services headquarters
A major review by the Panel during this political term was focused on what protections children have from online harm in the digital world. The Panel engaged a wide range of stakeholders, questioned relevant Ministers, and sought submissions and feedback from the public. The review made 63 findings and 38 recommendations to the government, urging an assessment of the protections children in Jersey have, stronger actions by the government to address these challenges, as well as a wider debate in the Island about the threats and dangers of the digital world.
Chair of the Panel, Deputy Catherine Curtis, said:
“I would like to thank all the people who have engaged with the panel’s work, the panel members, and the excellent officers. The work and remit of this Panel is extremely broad, covering hugely significant policy areas that have direct, tangible impacts on all Islanders, and particularly on younger generations.
“Throughout this political term we have reviewed policy and legislation, and questioned Ministers on their decisions, actions, and the progress of work against objectives. We have also looked at issues not being covered by government, which was a major rationale for undertaking the Online Harms review. As a Panel we feel this is a fundamentally significant piece of work, and our findings and recommendations to government provide an informed base for future policy and legislation to address the risks that have been identified.
“Alongside Online Harms, we have suggested several areas for future work that the next iteration of this Panel should consider pursuing. This includes but is not limited to the investment in children’s services; the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) legislation; and the leadership structure in Education. More generally, wider government budgets and proposed spending must also be closely scrutinised, to ensure Islanders are getting both the best value for money, but also money allocated to critical services such as schools, emergency services, and youth justice.
“As Chair I would like to emphasise the vital role of Scrutiny as a constructive and critical friend to Government, a role we have consistently sought to fulfil. This report aims to assist its successor Panel in the next political term, to ensure that Scrutiny can contribute positively to transparent and effective governance”.
Read the Panel’s report here: bit.ly/41Z759H
Find out more about the Panel here: bit.ly/3QtbKxT
