Coronavirus: Early years to benefit from renewed Sick Pay Rebate scheme

The Government is reintroducing the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS), as a temporary measure to support employers currently facing heightened levels of sickness. The SSPRS will refund small and medium-sized employers’ Covid-related SSP costs for up to two weeks for each employee.

Employers will be able to claim the costs for up to two weeks of SSP per employee who has to take time off due to Covid, regardless of whether they have claimed under the previous scheme for that individual. This applies for Covid related absences occurring from 21 December 2021 onwards.

Employers will be able to make a claim through HMRC from mid-January onwards, using this website:

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also introduced a new grant scheme to support businesses experiencing difficulties due to Omicron and the impact of staff absences and lower consumer demand.

The £102m Additional Restrictions Grant top-up will be prioritised for those local authorities who have distributed their existing allocation. It is intended to support businesses who are impacted by Covid-19 – but especially those who may not be eligible for the hospitality and leisure grant – and is at the discretion of local authorities.

'Latest grants are focused on leisure, hospitality and culture'
While Early Years Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch welcomes the return of the sick pay rebate for all those settings who are being hit hard by staff absences and falling attendance rates, he is concerned that –  ‘yet again, early years providers are falling through large holes in Government support schemes on offer to both the education sector, and to businesses.’ 

He says, ‘For example, not only are these latest grants focused on leisure, retail, hospitality and culture, the Government has declined to include pre-schools and nurseries in the extended business rates holiday. Meanwhile schools have long been eligible for the DfE’s Covid workforce fund, while early education settings, who are also forced to pay over the odds for short term cover or to close, receive no help with staffing at all. 

‘Early education professionals tell us time and again that they feel totally forgotten by this Government, even as they risk their own and their families’ health and safety every time they go out to work. They should not have to suffer more of the same neglect.’ 

At the National Day Nurseries Association, chief executive Purnima Tanuku said that the move is important for thousands of businesses badly impacted by rising numbers of Covid-19 cases – but that the money must also support early years providers who are really struggling.

‘Recent data shows cases affecting nurseries are at their highest levels since reporting began. This affects both staffing numbers and children able to attend – which in turn hits income for nurseries and other providers.

‘If any further Covid-19 restrictions affect the number of children attending settings, this will impact providers even more. Any further restrictions must be accompanied by enough support so these businesses can continue their vital work of supporting the learning and development for our youngest children.

‘Now is the wrong time to remove business rates relief, which will add average costs of £12,600, for nurseries across England who are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic. Early years providers need more support to remain sustainable, not less.’

More information here