Coronavirus daily round-up: Wednesday 4 November

• Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.

Charities call for end to child hunger 

Chief executives from charities including The Children’s Society, Barnardo’s, NSPCC, Save the Children, Action for Children and the National Children’s Bureau have written to Boris Johnson asking him  to work with them to develop both long and short term measures to help vulnerable children and their families facing food poverty this winter.

The group, who work with some of the most disadvantaged children and families across the country, say the government must tackle the widespread problems and create an overarching strategy to reduce them. 

Their solutions cover a wide range of areas, from extending the provision of free school meals; to investing more in children’s services; improving the welfare system and tackling educational inequalities.

• Mapped: Councils providing free school meals over half term and Christmas holidays

NDNA launches research on Covid-19 impact 

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and the Education Policy Institute (EPI) are launching the second survey in their year-long research project looking at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the early years workforce.

With the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme due to continue into December before being replaced by the Job Support Scheme (JSS), this piece of research will look at the impact the furlough scheme has had on the early years sector to date, the NDNA said.

To complete the survey click here.

• Early years providers need funding to cope with second coronavirus lockdown, sector leaders say

Calls for lockdown exit strategy 

The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for the government to work with councils to develop a strategy to exit lockdown on December 2.

Among recommendations for the government, the LGA is calling on minister to:

• Work jointly with councils to co-develop a clear strategy for after the national restrictions are set to end on December 2, with clear criteria about which restrictions or Tier Alert Levels will apply.
• Urgently build upon successful local contact tracing efforts to address the current limitations of the national NHS Test and Trace scheme.

• Early years settings and schools to remain open despite second Covid-19 lockdown