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

Announcing new measures to stem the spread of Covid-19 on Saturday night, Boris Johnson reimposed “stay at home” measures between Thursday (5 November) and early December.

People have been asked only to avoid non-essential travel and should only leave home for reasons including work if home working is not possible, exercise and to buy essential items.

Non-essential shops, bars and restaurants will also close, Johnson said.

However, children will still be able to leave home for education at early years settings, schools and universities.

Households may also mix for childcare reasons and children from split families will be able to move between households.

Johnson will lay plans before MPs on Monday ahead of a vote on Wednesday. Restrictions are expected to come into force from one minute past midnight on Thursday.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: "We welcome the confirmation that early years providers in England will be able to remain open during the upcoming second national lockdown. 

"We know that many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders across the country are already struggling to remain viable as a result of the combined impact of the pandemic and historic underfunding, and that many would not have been able to survive another order to temporarily close. 

"That said, with so many sectors instructed to shut down during this period, it is highly likely that the need and demand for childcare provision will nevertheless fall once again over the coming months, resulting in another fall in income for many early years providers. It is therefore critical that the government provides the financial support the sector needs to get through the upcoming lockdown and beyond, if it is to survive in the long term.

"What’s more, given we are being asked to remain open at such a frightening and worrying time, it's vital that early years providers are able to feel confident that they can keep themselves, their staff, the children in their care and their own families safe. 

"For this to happen, government must ensure that all providers have priority access to Covid testing, including home tests; affordable access to PPE; and support with the costs of keeping their settings as clean as possible. Our sector putting itself on the frontline in the middle of a global pandemic - anything less is simply not acceptable."

Children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield said: "Suggestions that schools will stay open during a forthcoming lockdown are very welcome. We've always said that schools should be the last to shut and first to open.

"It would be a disaster for children's well-being and education if they were to close."