Coronavirus: PVI recovery fund a ‘lifeline’ for early years settings

The Early Years Alliance Covid-19 Recovery Fund, launched in July, has provided grants of up to £750 to 52 of its members to help with the challenge of reopening provision during the Covid-19 crisis. 

Help with costs associated with deep cleaning and the purchase of equipment and resources, as well as provision for vulnerable or disadvantaged children, were supported by the £33,000 grant, which was funded by previous donations ringfenced to support early years settings in need.

Unlike schools, private and voluntary settings are not eligible for any extra funding from the Government to pay for costs associated with the pandemic.

Sector organisations have called repeatedly on the Government to provide extra funding for private and voluntary providers to help them to pay for the extra costs involved in staying open during the pandemic.

Marie Bullard, manager at Daisy Chain Preschool Suffolk, who used the grant for cleaning materials, PPE and ink cartridges to print out information for parents, said, ‘It was not only a lifeline but also a morale booster, as someone out there actually cared.’

The Alliance said that it would continue to do ‘all it can’ to support providers through this challenging period and described it as ‘truly heart-warming’ to hear the impact this funding has had on the providers and groups that have benefitted from it.