DfE confirms guidance on closures applies to all registered providers

A number of providers believe that Government guidance on closing to all but vulnerable children and those of key workers from 23 March will not apply to them, because they are private businesses.

However, Nursery World can confirm that all childcare settings are expected to comply, this includes PVI nurseries, pre-schools and childminders.

A Department for Education spokesperson told Nursery World that the Government couldn’t force nurseries to close but added ‘we expect nurseries and schools to do what is best for everybody’.

The DfE also said it was continuing to work closely with the early years sector and was urgently investigating ways to mitigate the negative impact of these closures.

Emergency legislation is currently being passed through Parliament to bring in powers for local authorities to enforce all childcare settings to close or open to vulnerable children and those of key workers, however this is not expected to come into force at least until next week, or even until the end of the month.

The legislation will also cover the relaxation of staff: child ratios.

Writing on Facebook, one user said she knew of quite a few private nurseries planning to stay open on Monday.

Another questioned whether childminders would have to shut as she thought it was only a ‘recommendation’.

It is understood that some local authorities have sent questionnaires to settings asking them how many children they expect to provide care to. Other councils have given advice to providers about how many children they will be allowed to care for per room.