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What childcare services early years settings, childminders and local authorities need to provide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

June 2, 2020

Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak

Main changes to previous guidance

  • restructured guidance in line with wider opening
  • updated responsibilities in light of wider opening (section 2)
  • updated content on funding including early years entitlements funding, clarification that nurseries which are eligible for charitable status relief are not eligible for small business grant funding, lines on Competition and Markets Authority and insurance (section 3)
  • updated content on infection prevention and control summarising relevant guidance, including use of small groups, protocol on visits by essential professionals (section 4)
  • new section on attendance, setting out principles of attendance, what to do if demand for places is high and whether children can attend two settings (section 5)
  • revised section on considerations for settings which replaces the old section on prioritising children with new content on the use of community centres and before and after school clubs; additional materials included on supporting home learning; content removed on critical workers (section 6)
  • new section on safeguarding and welfare including child protection policies, how to keep children safe online, considerations for children’s mental health and wellbeing and provisions for children with SEND (section 7)
  • updated content in EYFS section on paediatric first aid certificates (section 8.6)