Chief Minister Allan Bell says the debate about pre-school education is becoming "polarised" in seeing the only effective model as one which is teacher-led.
Allan Bell said this appears to devalue the high quality offered by many private and voluntary providers on the Island.
Answering a question in Tynwald from Dudley Butt MLC Mr Bell added that the key factor in the debate wasn't whether the provision was led by teachers, but that it was led by staff who were well-trained and skilled early years practitioners:
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