Early years settings will continue to operate as normal to all children as Covid-19 measures, similar to those imposed in March last year, come into force across England today (5 January).
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However, providers in Scotland and Wales have been told to close. Northern Ireland is set to make an announcement later today but has extended periods of remote learning for school and college pupils.
In an address to the nation on Monday night (4 January), Boris Johnson said all school-aged children except those of frontline workers and those classed as vulnerable would return to home schooling for at least six weeks until February half-term.
Early years leaders previously criticised the Department for Education over an “omission” of the sector from a heated debate over whether or not schools should reopen following the Christmas break ahead of the announcement.
There is a lot of talk about teachers needing priority vaccines but not so much about early years practitioners who have lots more contact with children, wiping noses, giving cuddles etc. It seems to be the only sector that it is deemed social distancing is not possible/sensible
— ChildmindingUK (@ChildmindingU) January 5, 2021
Providers have said “it is not clear to what extent regard for the safety of the early years workforce has been outweighed by the government's desire to ensure that at least some parents are able to continue to work” and accused the government of “putting a huge responsibility on the shoulders of the sector”.
Others raised concerns over a serious funding shortage across early years providers, likely to be exacerbated by a lack of demand for care while some called for workers to be prioritised for vaccines.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: “It is unacceptable that yet another government announcement has been made without reference to any scientific evidence explaining how those working in the early years are expected to be able to keep themselves and their loved ones safe at a time when those in schools are being told that it is simply too dangerous to go to work.
"The government is putting a huge responsibility on the shoulders of a sector they have, to date, provided with shamefully little support. If early years providers are expected to continue operating, it is vital that government takes the steps to enable them to do so safely as soon as possible: that means priority access to Covid-19 vaccinations, and the establishment of a comprehensive mass asymptomatic testing regime in early years settings as a matter of urgency.
"Adequate financial support - both for those providers who are reliant on 'free childcare' funding and those reliant on private parental fees - also remains critical, especially given that early years settings are likely to see an even greater fall in the demand for childcare places as a result of the heightened restrictions.
"Now is the time for the government to do what it has failed to do throughout this pandemic and make early education and childcare a priority."
Purmina Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said: “There is a lot of fear and confusion about how safe nurseries are. Parents and staff need reassurance from the government about the evidence behind the decision to keep nurseries open to all. A lot of work has gone into making nurseries as safe as possible but this reassurance needs to come from the highest level.
“Nurseries and early years providers cannot be hung out to dry. At the time when the government and the country is asking the most of the sector – to remain open while all other education services are closed – they must support childcare settings. The short-sighted decision to cut early years funding to headcount only, must be reversed.
“With so many settings worried about the financial impact of higher running costs and reduced income more targeted support needs to be made available to prevent wide-scale closures.
“For months we have been calling for better access to testing for early years staff, and with schools now closed, these settings have to be a priority. We all know it’s impossible to distance from toddlers and babies who need close care and contact. Therefore early years staff must also be a priority for the vaccine to enable them to continue on the frontline providing support for families.
“Time and time again the early years sector have been asked to go above and beyond for children and to support working families. Ministers have to recognise the scale of what they are asking, support the sector and ensure nurseries can survive this lockdown.”
Tulip Siddiq, Labour’s shadow minister for children and early years, warned a change to funding which allowed providers to claim for “free childcare” places based on pre-pandemic levels until the end of 2020 could “push providers to the brink of collapse”.
A survey carried out by the Early Years Alliance in November found that 25 per cent of childcare providers believed that they would cease to be viable within six months if the government didn’t extend the funding changes.
She said: “Early years settings can stay open during the lockdown, but the government’s change to their funding from this month has pushed 20,000 providers to the brink of collapse.
“The new lockdown is likely to wipe out demand for childcare, hitting providers’ incomes even further and pushing many nurseries and childminding businesses over the edge.
“The government urgently needs to rethink this funding change and give the sector the targeted support it needs. Early years staff and families of young children also need reassurances about safety at a very worrying time.”
