Early years settings and special schools to benefit from ventilation plan
Neil Puffett
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Figures in the early years sector have praised a government move to fit all schools and childcare settings with carbon dioxide (CO2) monitors as part of efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Under government plans portable monitors will be provided to all state-funded education settings from next week, so staff can quickly identify where ventilation needs to be improved allowing them to let fresh air into indoor spaces to remove air that contains virus particles.
Backed by £25m of government funding, 300,000 monitors will become available over the autumn term, with special schools and alternative provision prioritised to receive their full allocation from September given their higher-than-average numbers of vulnerable pupils.
-
Analysis: Covid pressures force childcare closures
-
Pandemic recovery: sector bodies outline their priorities for action
The government has also launched a trial of air purifiers in 30 schools in Bradford, which is designed to assess the technology and whether they could reduce the risk of transmission.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "Providing all schools with CO2 monitors will help them make sure they have the right balance of measures in place, minimising any potential disruption to education and allowing them to focus on world class lessons and catch up for the children who need it.
"By keeping up simple measures such as ventilation and testing, young people can now enjoy more freedom at school and college."
Jonathan Broadbery, director of policy and communications at the National Day Nurseries Association, said: “NDNA has been told by the Department for Education that private, voluntary and independent early years settings will be included in the scheme for carbon dioxide monitors. This is a welcome recognition that early years providers are a part of the national education infrastructure.
“Nurseries and childcare settings have operated throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and have gone, and continue, to go to great lengths to keep children and staff safe. Access to the right tools will help providers understand some of their areas of risk and help to ensure everyone remains safe. We want to see detailed guidance of how this scheme will operate and what support will be available to settings if ventilation issues are identified.
“Many settings are already running at a loss and have seen their running costs rise even further due to the pandemic. Throughout the past 18 months we have called for additional financial and practical support for early years settings. While this practical support is welcome, it must also be backed up with extra resources to support nurseries.”
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, commented: "Clearly, ventilating indoor spaces is a crucial component of ensuring early years settings remain as safe as possible. We therefore welcome the move to make carbon dioxide monitors available to all settings that offer early entitlements, as a valuable additional step to keep them both well-ventilated and hospitable during the more challenging autumn and winter months.
"Ensuring our early years spaces remain Covid-safe is a mission the sector is fully invested in. Any additional support for that mission will not only help protect children and the early years workforce, but also allow the sector to remain open as much as possible, benefitting the many families which rely on it."
With schools returning from the summer break next week, students and staff will also be asked to continue twice-weekly testing, with two on-site tests provided for secondary and college students.