Labour asks Government to explain problems with testing in early years settings

The Hampstead and Kilburn MP has learned that early years providers are advising parents to keep their children at home, in line with Government guidance, but parents are then being told by their GP or the NHS helpline that their symptoms are not severe enough for them to need to self-isolate or to get a test.

This confusion has implications both for families and early years staff who care for them.

Ms Siddiq (pictured) has asked the children’s minister for an explanation as to why there ‘appears to be a disconnect’ between the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care.

As Nursery World reported earlier this week, early years workers are struggling to get tests leaving nurseries with staff shortages that could mean they have to close their settings.

‘Major problems’ getting staff tested - with three currently off due to Covid symptoms - at Treasures Nursery in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, led to nursery manager Cathy Walker considering buying home testing kits but, at a cost of £113 per test, it was prohibitive.

On Facebook childminder Kimberley Forteath said, 'It's taken 3 days to get a test for my husband and daughter. By the time we get the results I will have lost an entire week's income for nothing if it's negative.' 

Unlike schools, early year providers have not been allocated Covid home testing kits.

Ms Siddiq said in the letter to the children's minister, ‘Despite the Government’s promise to give childminders and practitioners working in nurseries and pre-schools priority access to Covid-19 tests, many early years workers are struggling to get tested and get the results quickly. This is leading to significant staff shortages in the childcare sector and threatening the closure of some settings, which many parents are relying on in order to be able to return to work.

‘I would be grateful if you could explain why your Government has allowed this to happen and outline the steps you are taking to ensure that early years staff can get tests quickly and the providers and families who are affected by current delays are properly supported. I would also welcome an explanation for why early years settings have not been provided with an initial supply of Covid-19 home testing kits or a mechanism for ordering further tests as other educational settings have.’

She added, ‘Another issue that has been drawn to my attention is that early years providers are advising parents to keep their children at home if they display coronavirus symptoms – in line with the Government’s guidance – only to be contradicted by the medical advice of their GP or NHS helpline staff, which I am told is that their symptoms are not severe enough to warrant self-isolation or a test. Not only is this confusion causing anxiety and problems for the parents of children in this position, but it has implications for other children in their bubble and staff who have had close contact with them.’

The Department for Education has been asked for a comment.