The effects of the coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic on the childcare sector are potentially far-reaching and extremely serious, as the health of families, staff and whole businesses is at risk.
We have already published online stories about the lack of insurance cover for nurseries if they are forced to close by government action or staff absence.
Yesterday’s Budget brought further concerns as the 12-month business rates holiday for small retail, leisure and hospitality companies was not extended to nurseries.
The Chancellor later explained that he was trying to protect businesses on the ‘consumption side’ to make sure they didn’t fail, and had therefore excluded nurseries.
So a pub should be given significant help, but not an early years setting which is providing vital childcare for the nation’s parents and children?
And nurseries, as we know, are already hurting from a range of rising costs, with national living wage set to go up significantly in the next few years, and continued underfunding. There was no further help in the Budget on money for the ‘free’ 15 and 30 hours, despite an £18 billion fiscal loosening.
There is certainly an argument that early years settings should be exempt from business rates as schools are – they provide education and most are publicly-funded to a great extent.
And now we have an unexpected and devastating addition to nurseries’ concerns as coronavirus sweeps the world. Our story on pages 10-11 shows providers doing their best in the face of the unknown – to take sensible measures, to follow guidance and to cheerfully teach children good hygiene practices and songs.
Let’s hope the Government lives up to its promise to support nurseries’ sustainability in these unprecedented times.
