Coronavirus: DfE publishes update for early years settings

Key changes and additional advice on when children and staff should return to the setting covers:

• confirmatory PCR tests
• testing for children aged under five for household contacts in tracing close contacts and self-isolation

The Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak guidance has been updated in line with the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announcement about confirmatory PCR tests, clarification that children can return to the setting on day seven if they've had two negative lateral flow tests, and guidance on testing under-fives for household contacts.

Tracing close contacts and self-isolation

Children under five who are identified as close contacts are exempt from self- isolation and do not need to take part in daily testing of close contacts. They are advised to take a PCR test if the positive case is in their household.

From 14 December 2021, adults who are fully vaccinated and all children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months identified as a contact of someone with Covid-19 are strongly advised to take a lateral flow test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result. Daily testing of close contacts applies to all contacts who are:

• fully vaccinated adults – people who have had 2 doses of an approved vaccine
• all children and young people aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, regardless of their vaccination status
• people who are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
• people taking part, or have taken part, in an approved clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine

More information is available in:

• NHS Test and Trace: what to do if you are contacted
• stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection

Settings will continue to have a role in working with health protection teams in the case of a local outbreak. If there is a substantial increase in the number of positive cases in a setting (see local outbreaks section for more information) or if central government offers the area an enhanced response package, a director of public health might advise a setting to temporarily reintroduce some control measures.

Confirmatory PCR tests

Settings ‘should follow the latest government guidance on confirmatory PCR tests following a positive rapid lateral flow (LFD) test.’