Nursery World - Exclusion of early years settings from new Covid fund a 'slap in the face'

The sector has accused the Government of disrespecting early years providers by excluding them from new Covid workforce funding.

The Government's new Covid Workforce Fund is only open to schools and colleges

On Friday (27 November), education secretary Gavin Williamson announced the new fund to support schools and colleges with staff absences throughout the pandemic.

The fund, which is not open to nurseries, pre-schools or childminders, will be backdated to 1 November and cover the current half term. It forms part of the Government’s national priority to keep educational settings open.

The Early Years Alliance called the move by the Department for Education (DfE) a ‘slap in the face’ for providers, while the the NDNA branded it ‘a kick in the teeth’.

It comes after research by the Alliance found that one in six nurseries could close by Christmas.

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