Coronavirus / COVID-19: nurseries and early years providers

See our guidance for nurseries and early years settings for managing coronavirus / COVID-19

It is important that you and your nursery, are prepared for how the coronavirus / COVID-19 situation may develop. Here at NDNA we are keeping in touch with the relevant government departments and health bodies to make sure our advice for you is up-to-date. 

See our latest guidance to support you through this health crisis. All of these sites are up-dated daily where required. Included is:

• More detail on the Job retention scheme
• Business closures
• Statutory sick pay
• Taxation and HMRC
• Business grants and loans
• Regulatory support
• Keeping your setting safe.

Nurseries - please see our FAQs below in the first instance, for support with this situation. They include official advice from our legal helpline. 

Parents - please contact your nursery in the first instance for any queries regarding this situation.

We want to assure you that here at NDNA we have put plans in place to ensure we stay open as usual for you. All our staff are set up to work remotely so that we can continue to support you, answering your queries and delivering the service you need in these challenging times.

FAQs - financial support

See support

FAQs - nursery business support

See support

FAQs - nursery infection control

See support

How NDNA is supporting you

See support

On 25 March the DfE issued new guidance around social distancing for children in emergency childcare settings. Key points include:

• Children are just as likely to contract the virus but symptoms are usually mild. Any child who can be cared for at home should be kept at home to reduce the spread
• Children with mild underlying health conditions can continue to receive emergency childcare but not those in one of the most vulnerable groups. Staff who fall into this category must also not attend work
• Children with an EHC plan must be risk assessed by the LA and continue to attend if appropriate
• More comprehensive social distancing measures while in childcare are outlined including staggering lunchtimes, arrival and drop off, and increased hygiene practices.
  • NDNA is aware that nurseries will be concerned about the safety and protection of their staff so we are speaking to officials and ministers about securing access to important cleaning and protective equipment supplies for childcare providers, not just schools, who are continuing to remain open.

   

  On 25 March, Morton Michel also notified NDNA that they are setting up a Nursery Care Online Claim Form - read more here.


On 24 March the government gave the following advice, you can see the speech here:

• People will only be allowed to leave their homes for:
  
  • Shopping for basic necessities – this should be as infrequently as possible
  • One form of exercise a day – for example a run, walk, or bike ride. This should be done alone or with members of their household
  • Any medical need or to provide health/personal care to a vulnerable person
  • Travelling to and from work – this should only be done where it is absolutely necessary and work cannot be done from home.
• The Government is closing all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores. Other public spaces like libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, and places of worship will also close.
• All gatherings of more than two people in public are banned – excluding people you live with.
• All social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies are banned but funerals are allowed to continue.
• Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed by the police who will have the powers to ask people why they are out of their homes, issue fines and disperse groups.

Useful links

• Governmnet guidance: 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): early years and childcare closures' (England)
• General government guidance - this is updated at 2pm each day
• Department for Education advice for educational settings regarding coronavirus / COVID-19
• Scottish Government guidance on coronavirus / COVID-19 for schools and educational settings in Scotland
• Welsh Government guidance on coronavirus / COVID-19 for schools and educational settings in Wales and for the very latest advice from Welsh Government, please check here
• Government stay at home advice
• Government hygiene practices poster
• Public Health England's coronavirus / COVID-19 advice generic poster
• Government COVID-19: guidance for educational settings poster
• NHS Scotland's advice on the coronavirus / COVID-19 for places of education poster.

Helplines:

• Department for Education coronavirus / COVID-19 helpline: 0800 046 8687 (8am Mon - Friday) - email dfe.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
  
• Scottish government coronavirus / COVID-19 helpline for businesses: 0300 303 0660 (8:30am - 5:30pm Mon -  Fri) 
• Call the Welsh Government's helpline for business advice: 0300 060 3000
• NDNA legal helpline for members.