Nursery World - Coronavirus: DfE tells local authorities to fund children temporarily absent from nurseries

Coronavirus: DfE tells local authorities to fund children temporarily absent from nurseries

Children not currently attending an early years setting due to coronavirus, but that are registered with one, should be included in next week’s early years census, the Department for Education has confirmed.

Early years settings will receive funding for children that are registered with them, but are not currently attending due to the pandemic

The annual headcount, which is carried out every January, informs early entitlement funding levels in different areas in England, and this year takes place during the week beginning 18 January.

The move has been confirmed in guidance sent to local authorities, Coronavirus-related support for submitting an Early Years Census 2021 return.

The guidance explains how to record funded early years places for the early years census in light of the impact of Covid-19.

It says that councils should fund children who are absent for reasons such as self-isolation, or because their parents have chosen to care for them at home because they are worried about sending their child to their setting during the coronavirus pandemic.

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