https://dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/05/05/childcare/

Today’s blog looks at the package of support the Government is making available to early years settings, following a report from the Early Years Alliance.

Childcare providers

Today, Tuesday 5 May, the Early Years Alliance published a survey about the impact of coronavirus on childcare providers, claiming that a quarter fear permanent closure within the year.

The findings of the survey were reported by ITV News, BBC Online and Press Association.

The Government has provided significant financial and business support for early years settings, including:

• continued funding to local authorities for the free early years entitlements for two, three and four-year olds;
•  confirming that there will be no rise in the fees paid by early years and childcare providers to register with Ofsted in 2020-21;
•  announcing private providers will be eligible for a business rates holiday for one year. That means non-local authority providers of childcare will pay no business rates in 2020-21; and
•  for employees whose salary can be considered to be covered by private income, the Government will contribute 80% of each worker’s wages up to £2,500 a month

We will continue to monitor the market closely throughout this time.

A Department for Education spokesperson said:

Nurseries, childminders and all other early years settings are playing a vital role in the response to coronavirus, by supporting critical workers and parents of vulnerable children with continued childcare.

We have provided continuity in funding for the free childcare entitlements, and the government has put in place a significant package of financial support for providers – this includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which providers can access for employees whose salary is not covered by public funding. This principle applies universally across all sectors.

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Tags:Childcare, Early years