While primary schools in some areas of the country where coronavirus infection rates are high have been told to stay closed to all but key worker children and vulnerable children as of today (4 January), early years providers have been advised to stay open.
The Early Years Alliance has written to education secretary Gavin Williamson and children and families minister Vicky Ford to criticise the omission of the early years sector from the debate.
In the letter, Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch, says, ‘Early years providers have been on the frontline through this crisis. They have put themselves, and their loved ones, at risk to do what the Government has asked and provide vital care and education to the children and families that need it. It cannot be that nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are treated as education providers when they are needed by the Government, and dismissed as private businesses who have to fend for themselves when they are not.
‘What is being asked of the workforce – to continue operating in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic with little support, even less information and no acknowledgement from the Department that is supposed to represent them – cannot continue.’
The letter also calls on the DfE to reinstate early entitlement funding support for early years providers during the spring term, in light of the fact that heightened restrictions are likely to result in a significant reduction in the demand for childcare.
During the autumn term, the Government provided funding to nurseries, pre-schools and childminders for 'free childcare' places based on pre-Covid attendance levels – but this support has been withdrawn from the start of January. Funding for the spring term will be based on the January 2021 census. The only exception will be for local authorities where attendance is less than 85 per cent of 2020 levels at the time of the census, but increases during the course of the term, in which case a top up will be provided up to a cap of 85 per cent (see DfE guidance 'Use of free early education entitlements funding during coronavirus (Covid-19)'.
On social media nurseries have also been calling for more support.
On Twitter, nursery owner Alison Archibald, said, ‘Please, please remember EY [early years] settings. We are expected to open to all children on Monday despite being in a borough where primaries are closwed except to key worker & vulnerable children. This makes no sense!’
NDNA’s chief executive Purnima Tanuku said that nurseries and childcare providers were being put into ‘an intolerable position by the Government – being told it is safe to open while some schools are being advised to close.
‘This is causing real fear for staff, parents and providers. It is shocking that early years are being ignored again in this debate despite the fact that the sector has worked like a fourth emergency service throughout.
‘Early years provision is vital for children’s development as well as working families, but the Government must engage with the sector and provide firm assurance on the safety of children and early years staff. Nurseries have worked tirelessly to put in place safety measures to minimise the spread of the virus and make their settings as safe as possible for staff and children at their own cost.
‘The Government must prioritise vaccinations for early years staff. Everyone knows it is impossible to socially distance from a toddler or a baby. Staff are being asked to work on the frontline, giving love, care and learning opportunities to our youngest children, they must be a high priority for receiving the vaccine.'
Ms Tanuku also warned that there would be 'disastrous consequences' if the Government asked nurseries to stay open for key worker and vulnerable children as it had done last spring.
'If the Government is to go back to this scenario they must provide the financial support the sector needs to avoid mass closures.’
Mr Leitch added, ‘Since the very start of the pandemic, the education secretary has treated the early years as a complete afterthought.
‘If the Government is this concerned about the spread of the virus in primary schools, it must provide clear, scientific evidence for why the early years should be treated differently. If it cannot provide this vital reassurance, then it surely has no choice but take the necessary decision to close early years settings and provide the financial support providers will need to remain viable during such temporary closures.
‘Those working in the early years are understandably extremely anxious about the safety and wellbeing of themselves, their colleagues, their families and the children they care for, but have sadly been made to feel that their safety simply does not matter.
‘For providers to have any confidence in the decision to keep early years settings open, Government must address the sector’s concerns directly, and demonstrate that it considers the safety of those taking care of our youngest children a top priority.’
Reopening schools
Meanwhile, the three main teaching unions – the NEU, NASUWT and the NAHT - as well as the GMB, Unite and Unison, which represent school support staff – have issued a joint statement calling for ‘a pause’ in the reopening of schools.
They said, ‘The Government’s chaotic handling of the opening of schools has caused confusion for teachers, school staff and parents alike. Bringing all pupils back into classrooms while the rate of infection is so high is exposing education sector workers to serious risk of ill-health and could fuel the pandemic.
‘Unions have called for a pause in the reopening of schools for anyone other than vulnerable children and children of key workers, and a move to remote learning for all while Covid-secure working arrangements are reviewed. All school staff continuing to work in schools should be given priority access to Covid-19 vaccinations.
‘Instead of casually asserting that schools are safe, the prime minister should sit down with unions to discuss a joint approach to ensuring safe working arrangements in all schools and prioritising enabling all pupils have the equipment and access they need to receive a high standard of remote learning until the safety of them and the staff in their school can be guaranteed.’
In an interview with broadcasters at Chase Farm Hospital in London this morning, Boris Johnson said that closing primary schools was ‘a last resort’.
He said, ‘It’s very important to understand that back in March, one of the things I look back on with the greatest misgivings was the closure of primary schools because it’s so important for young people to get an education.
‘That’s why closing primary schools is, for all of us, a last resort. That’s why we are looking at everything else we can possibly do to avoid that.
‘I would stress schools are safe and the risk to kids is very, very small.’
Meanwhile, councils have said they want to be able to make decisions about reopening early years settings and schools based on the data in they local areas.
Councillor Judith Blake, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, which represents councils across England, said on Sunday, ‘Keeping schools and early years settings open for the wellbeing and education of children and young people is hugely important, for those children’s life chances and for working parents.
‘However, councils know many parents and teachers across the country are anxious about schools and early years settings opening next week amid rising infections rates.
‘It is important that schools have the local flexibility to take decisions about reopening - in consultation with their councils - based on the latest public health advice and data. This is vital to reassure parents and carers that it is safe for their schools to reopen.’
