The move follows a review of the regulations on 18 June, in line with reviews every 21 days.
In a written statement, the first minister Mark Drakeford said that in Wales, the number of new confirmed cases of coronavirus has fallen steadily since the peak in April and has been below 100 every day during June. The number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus is falling steadily and there are currently 33 people in critical care in Wales being treated for coronavirus, 80 per cent lower than in April.
The number of deaths reported every day by Public Health Wales is lower than at this time three weeks ago, and are at their lowest point since lockdown began. The Office for National Statistics’ weekly figures show the number of deaths from coronavirus has fallen every week for six weeks.
Wales is therefore taking steps to ease the lockdown from Monday, including opening all non-essential shops, and lifting restrictions on outdoor sports.
The Welsh Government said that sending a child to childcare is considered ‘low risk’, and that it has published guidance to help settings prepare to increase the numbers of children they care for.
‘Ultimately, it will be for parents to decide whether or not to send children to childcare.’
Mr Drakeford said, ‘To support a return to work for more people, there will be a gradual reopening of childcare facilities, operating under new guidelines developed with the sector. To help reduce the risk of transmission, we are asking that children attend just one setting wherever possible. If a child attends more than one setting, such as school and childcare, they should remain in the same, small consistent group across both.’
He added, ‘On Monday 29 June, pupils will return to school, under the plans previously announced by the Education Minister, to check in, catch up and prepare for summer and September.’
The National Day Nurseries Association welcomed the reopening of nurseries, but said that a weekend was not enough time for nurseries to prepare when they had been working towards the 29 June reopening date.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive (NDNA) Cymru, said, ‘Although this opportunity to accept more children will be welcomed by many nurseries, especially those who have been open only for key worker childcare, it really is very short notice.
‘A great deal of planning and work needs to be done to prepare nurseries and their staff teams so that they can welcome children back into an environment that is familiar, but also as safe as it can be. Giving providers just a weekend to get ready is not sufficient time, especially when nurseries were working towards reopening on 29 June.’
‘We know that many parents will have concerns for their children’s safety and the wider community. We would like to reassure them that nurseries are doing everything they can to put in place measures to keep everyone safe and we hope this gives them the confidence to bring their children back to their learning environment.’
More funding was needed for providers, she added, with nurseries reporting that they had lost funding because of the Welsh government’s decision to put childcare offer funding on hold for children taking up new places.
‘Unfortunately, childcare providers are really going to struggle, having to pay increased costs to minimise the spread of infection - such as more staff hours to carry out extra cleaning and installing partitions and additional handwashing basins – while simultaneously expecting reduced income due to lower demand.
‘We have heard that some of our members are receiving half the amount of usual Childcare Offer funding due to the decision to close the Offer to new entrants this term. The Welsh Government must provide continuing financial support to nurseries and other providers in order for them to stay afloat and weather this storm.’
The Welsh Government guidance
Protective measures in childcare settings: Keep Childcare safe
