Early Years and Childcare Announcement by the DFE

Dear Colleagues,

Yesterday, the Prime Minister has set out the next phase of the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19), including where some restrictions can be lifted. The decision to ease restrictions is made on the balance of risk to public health and educational considerations.

We have published today the 13^th iteration of ‘actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’ guidance. In our guidance update, we have withdrawn the document ‘education and childcare settings: national lockdown from 5 January 2021’ and transferred relevant sections into the updated guidance.

Please note that we will be updating guidance for parents and carers shortly.

The Main changes to the guidance for early years:

Face coverings

We have clarified the guidance on wearing of face coverings where social distancing between staff in communal areas is not possible.

Childminders for school-aged children

Childminders can continue to look after all early years children. Until 8 March, childminders should continue to only look after those school-age children (from reception onwards) who are vulnerable or children of critical workers. From 8 March, childminders will be able to look after vulnerable children as normal, and all other children where parents are using the provision to support them to work, seek work, undertake education or training, or attend a medical appointment or address a medical need.

Testing

We have added a section on asymptomatic testing to the guidance confirming that we are now expanding home testing kits to staff in all private, voluntary and independent nurseries, who should start to receive deliveries of Lateral Flow Device (LFD) home testing kits to offer to all their staff for twice weekly testing from next month. This is will help to identify positive cases more quickly and break the chains of transmissions.  Childminders can continue to access community testing, and the Department continues to work with colleagues across government to review the testing approach available for childminders.

Mass testing for secondary pupils as all schools and colleges fully reopen from 8 March – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Guidance updates

We continue to provide the sector with guidance and support during the period of national lockdown. For information, links to the published guidance are provided below:

• Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care

Please see also attached a letter of thanks from the Secretary of State, Gavin Williamson.

Kind regards,

Early Years Entitlements