Coronavirus: Plea for nurseries and schools to limit places as settings close

The education secretary has reiterated the advice for education settings.

Gavin Williamson said, ‘All schools will be closed except for vulnerable children and those of critical workers. If your work is not critical in the response to Coronavirus then please keep your child at home. This will help to halt the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and save lives.

‘We will be closely monitoring what is happening in schools and will ensure they get the support they need in the weeks and months ahead.’

On Twitter nursery owner Molly Snow @MollyCraven, said, ‘We're open to three children. Children don't quite know what to do with themselves as there's normally 45-50 children in. We've made bird feeders this morning and enjoyed some sunshine. Not sure how long we can keep open for just three though.’

Tops Day Nurseries has said it is keeping all of its settings open for key worker staff. They include several sites for NHS staff in hospitals in Dorset and Hampshire.

Teaching unions said that most children should be staying at home, and that children with one parent who is a key worker should be staying at home with the other parent.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said, ‘Teachers, school leaders and support staff are on the front line, looking after the children of key workers and vulnerable children. 

‘But they can only do this vital work if everyone plays fair.  

‘The vast majority of children should stay at home. This is the safest place for them.’

Mr Williamson has said that schools opening during the crisis should have no more than 10 per cent of their normal intake.

Dr Bousted said, ‘We think this is the right percentage, because it will enable schools to implement social distancing strategies for children old enough to understand why this is important.

‘If schools are to limit their intake during the crisis, school leaders and teachers must exercise their professional judgement. There may have to be some difficult conversations with parents including telling parents that the school cannot accommodate their children and remain safe.  

‘Children who have one parent as a key worker should remain at home. Their other parent should look after them.

‘Staff who are in the high risk categories should not go into school.

'Staff who are living with relatives in the high risk categories should not go into school.'

‘Other staff should attend on a rota agreed between staff and head.’

School leaders said they were concerned that too many parents are trying to keep their children in school when not absolutely necessary, meaning attempts to stop the spread of Coronavirus could fail.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said, 'My appeal to the families of key workers is: This is not business as usual. Keep your family at home if at all possible. Leave the few spaces available for those that truly have no alternative.

'My appeal to companies and other employers: Please do not interpret the key workers lists liberally for your own ends. Do not put profit over people. School places are there for the most vulnerable and to keep truly crucial operations running.'

• Updates from the DfE on the latest guidance for schools and other educational settings is available here
• During this unprecedented crisis, Nursery World is here for the early years community to report on the coronavirus outbreak and provide information and advice. We want to hear from you. How is your early years setting coping? How are you supporting the children and families in your local community? Are you staying open for key workers? Let us know if you would like to feature in a case study in our next issue. Get in touch in the comments below, email news.nw@markallengroup.com, on our Facebook page, and take part in Nursery World’s Twitter poll