The Chancellor has today (Tuesday 17 March) confirmed
the Government will continue to pay funding to local
authorities for the free entitlements for two, three
and four-year-olds, providing reassurance for early
years settings in light of coronavirus.
The Department for Education has set out its
expectation that local authorities should follow its
position and continue to pass on the government funding
it receives for these entitlements to providers, in the
event that any are advised to close by Public Health
England or children are not able to attend due to
coronavirus, to minimise short-term disruption.
To provide maximum clarity and stability to the early
years sector during this time of rapidly changing
circumstances, the government has also confirmed today
that there will be no rise in the fees paid by early
years and childcare providers to register with Ofsted
in 2020-21. This follows a recent consultation with the
sector, which took on responses on fees for the Early
Years Register.
Education Secretary said:
Millions of parents rely on childcare and the vital
service provided by nurseries, childminders and
preschools. Making sure that young children can be
cared for safely so that their parents are able to
work where required is of the utmost importance now
more than ever.
In recognition of this, we will continue to pay for
all free early years entitlements places, even in the
event that settings are closed on the advice of
Public Health England, or children are not able to
attend due to coronavirus, and we will not be asking
for funding back from local authorities.
The advice from Public Health England continues to be
that all educational settings, including nurseries,
preschools and childminders, should remain open unless
advised otherwise. The Department for Education is
providing daily updates to local authorities and early
years sector organisations.
Children and Families Minister said:
I want to thank all the early years practitioners who
day-in and day-out do such an excellent job. I know
these must be difficult times and I hope these
announcements show that we are listening to their
concerns and taking urgent action. I particularly
want to thank the Early Years Alliance, the National
Day Nurseries Association, and the Professional
Association for Childcare and Early Years for their
engagement at this critical time.
The Department for Education also confirmed today
that Ofsted is to temporarily suspend routine
inspections of schools, colleges, early years settings,
children’s social care providers and local authorities
to reduce the burden on staff who are providing vital
services to the nation in response to coronavirus.
