Coronavirus (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.
- NEW! Early years providers will no longer need to keep children in small 'bubbles' within settings from 20 July onwards, the DfE has announced. Read the full story.
- NEW! On 1 July, the government released new guidance on what nurseries, childminders and early years settings need to do if there's a local lockdown during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Read it here.
- The Department for Education has asked early years providers in England to reopen for children of all ages.
- For questions on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Furlough Leave and Related Employment Matters please see our FAQs on our Business Advice page.
- For questions on how the Job Retention Scheme and the Early Years Entitlement funding work together please see our FAQs page on these schemes.
The COVID-19 outbreak is an ever-evolving situation. This information will be updated regularly as things change.
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
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Self-employed Income Support Scheme
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
Local lockdowns: guidance for education and childcare settings
Planning guide for early years and childcare settings.
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
Actions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020
Implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings
Details on phased wider openings of schools, colleges and nurseries
Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government's COVID-19 Recovery Strategy
COVID-19: Cleaning of non-healthcare settings
Early Years Foundation Stage: Coronavirus disapplications
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
Coronavirus (Covid-19): early years and childcare closures
Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing social distancing in education and childcare settings
Criticial workers who can access schools or educational settings
COVID 19: Guidance for educational settings (DfE and Public Health England)
Pastoral care
COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
For families
COVID 19 - Common Questions - Advice for You and Your Family (NHS)
Health
Coronarvirus: latest information and advice (Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England)
Coronavirus (2019-cCoV) (NHS)
Coronavirus FAQs (NHS)
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) - what you need to know (Public Health England)