Coronavirus: Childminders now able to order home-testing kits

The move comes a week after the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that nurseries and pre-schools will start receiving deliveries of lateral flow devices from this week (Thursday 11 March) to be used from the week beginning 22 March.

The Department for Education (DfE) has today updated its guidance on lateral flow testing and education to state that ‘anyone who works in an occupation related to a childcare provider, school, nursery or college, and their household, childcare and support bubbles and support bubbles are now able to access twice-weekly testing’.

This means that childminders, like other early years providers, can now either attend a test site to get tested or collect at-home tests or order lateral flow test kits online.

Commenting on the decision, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘Given that many childminders work long hours, often making it difficult for them to access community test centres during the week, it's clear that this step should have been taken weeks ago. The fact that childminders have only been given access to these vital tests after they have been made freely available to a significant proportion of the households in England is simply unacceptable.

‘Childminders offer the same quality care and education as other early years professionals, and have continued to do so, within their own homes, despite the risks associated with Covid-19. Going forward, the Government must ensure the whole of the early years sector is treated equally and that all providers, whether group setting or home-based, are given the support they need to operate as safely and securely as possible.’

Liz Bayram, chief executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), said, 'We, like our members, are relieved that at last the thousands of childminders and nannies denied access to home testing can now use these tests at home. This means they and the families they support can benefit from the same reassurance that nurseries, pre-schools and schools having been enjoying for some time now.

'We thank our members who helped us to make the case to Government that this change was vital to help stop the transmission of the virus and reduce its impact on childminders and nannies. Sharing their first-hand experiences with us and raising awareness of the issue on social media was a key driving force in convincing DfE and DHSC to commit to supplying tests to them as well as all other registered providers.

'There is still lots to be done to ensure that childminders and nannies have equal standing with others in the education and childcare sector and today’s announcement was a positive step towards this.'

• The updated guidance is available here
• Click here to order tests online