Coronavirus (Covid-19)

covid 19

These pages are for all staff working directly with children and families in an early years provision.

It is not intended to replace any guidance issued by the Government.

  • England has returned to a system of regional tiered restrictions. A full list of local restriction tiers is available here. Early years providers, wraparound care and baby and toddler groups can operate across all tiers. General information about what restrictions apply in each tier is available here.
  • For baby and toddler groups, please note that new government guidance clarifies that groups should still be limited to 15 (including staff and volunteers) but this limit still does not include any children aged under-five.
  • There have been several updates to current government guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We have included the updated information in our FAQs page Operating during the coronavirus lockdown and beyond. 
  • The furlough system will be extended now until March 2021.
  • EYFS disapplications will be extended throughout the lockdown period as well.
  • Ofsted has created a page for providers who need to report a Covid-19 incident at their setting. Visit the page.

 

The COVID-19 outbreak is an ever-evolving situation. This information will be updated regularly as things change.

 

Operating during lockdown and beyond Business advice buttonInfection controlEYFS changesCommunicating with familiesAlliance actions

 

Coronavirus helpline

The Department for Education has a helpline for early years providers, schools and colleges – as well as parents, carers and young people – who have questions about coronavirus.

If you have specific questions about the virus, you can contact the helpline on:

Call: 0800 046 8687

Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

 

Key links

 

Business support

Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care

Job Support Scheme

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Self-employed Income Support Scheme

Small Business Grant Fund

Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance for the charity sector

Financial support for your business during coronavirus (Covid-19)

Use of free early education entitlements funding during coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

Operational

Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak

Covid-19 Winter Plan

Local lockdowns: guidance for education and childcare settings

Local lockdown planning and decision making

Covid 19 - Early outbreak management

Action list PDF: What to do if a child is displaying symptoms of coronavirus

Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak

Education and childcare

Safe working in education, childcare and children's social care

Early years and childcare: Coronavirus Covid 19

Ofsted: Interim visits: registered early years providers

COVID-19: Cleaning of non-healthcare settings

Early Years Foundation Stage: Coronavirus disapplications

Criticial workers who can access schools or educational settings

Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government's COVID-19 Recovery Strategy

 

Pastoral care

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

 

Health

Coronarvirus: latest information  (Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England)

Coronavirus (2019-cCoV) (NHS)

COVID-19: guidance for supervised toothbrushing programmes in early years and school settings