Covid cases in nurseries at all-time reported high

The latest Ofsted figures show the number of early years and childcare settings reporting Covid-19 cases increased from 1,960 on 15 November to 2,707 a week later on 22 November.

The data for 22 November represents the largest number of reports since Ofsted began publishing the figures on 1 June 2020.

According to Ofsted, the number of reports by settings of Covid cases dropped slightly to 1,403 on 8 November, before increasing a week later.

Reported COVID-19 notifications by registered early years and childcare settings

It comes at a time when coronavirus cases in primary schools are growing and follows the introduction of new safety measures by the Government to try to curb the spread of the virus, as the new variant Omicron takes hold in this country.

The Early Years Alliance and the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) have raised concern about the increase in reports of Covid-19 in settings.

The Alliance urged the Government to review the rules that allow young children living with someone who is Covid-positive to continue attending their early years setting, regardless of which variant they have.

'Nurseries are doing all they can to keep children and staff safe'

NDNA’s director of policy and communications Jonathan Broadbery said, ‘Nurseries are doing all they can to keep children and staff safe but these are now the highest rates we have seen since reporting began in September 2020.

‘These cases have a massively disruptive influence on children’s experiences in early education settings when they have already missed out on so many experiences. We are hearing about many more cases with staff becoming ill and children having to stay away, resulting in more lost learning.

‘The Government must continue to support our vital early years sector to help them remain sustainable at a time when they are so important in supporting children, families and the economy.’

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘It is extremely worrying to see such a sharp rise in reports of Covid-19 cases in settings during just one week of reporting. This is likely to create huge fear and anxiety for the early years workforce, who cannot socially distance from either the children in their care or their colleagues, and for setting owners and managers who once again face a loss of income and rising staffing shortages.

‘Early years educators have put themselves at risk throughout the pandemic to ensure young children get the care and education they need, and that parents can continue to go out to work.

'With early years settings clearly at risk, the Government must now, as a priority, look to put in place additional measures to protect early years staff and their families, including reviewing the rules that allow young children living with someone who is Covid-positive to continue attending their early years setting, regardless of which variant they happen to have.

‘With Covid rates unlikely to fall for some time now, it is also vital that early years providers get the financial support they need to ensure they can remain afloat during what is likely to be an incredibly difficult period.’

• The figures are available here