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Covid 19 and Childcare

This information is current at 23/3/20, although it is changing rapidly. Funding Support Free Entitlement Funding (FEE) Yesterday the Government confirmed that settings receiving FEE would continue to receive this during any periods of nursery, preschool or childminder closures, or where children cannot attend due to coronavirus (COVID-19).  It was also confirmed that Ofsted would […]

Publication date: 

This information is current at 23/3/20, although it is changing rapidly.

Funding Support

Free Entitlement Funding (FEE)

Yesterday the Government confirmed that settings receiving FEE would continue to receive this during any periods of nursery, preschool or childminder closures, or where children cannot attend due to coronavirus (COVID-19).  It was also confirmed that Ofsted would be temporarily suspending routine inspections.

The government also has announced some additional support:

  • A statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs
  • Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief

Although they have not announced the mechanisms for claiming this yet the small business grant fund will probably be administered via the local authority.

The Sick pay relief covers up to 2 weeks.  Additional advice is available at https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus.

Childminders

Unfortunately, Childminders do not receive much support currently in the announced measures.  The only thing that has been brought forward is that in the event of them having to isolate due to Covid 19 they should be able to apply for ESA (Employment Support Allowance).

Group Settings

For group settings, if there is an enforced closure you may wish to tell staff to take annual leave for all or part of the closure.  If you choose to do this you need to ensure that you give at least twice the amount of notice as the period of leave.  So for example, if you want people to take 5 days of annual leave you must give them 10 days notice.  More details are available at https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus.

With the announced closure of schools and Nurseries on 18/3/20

Rate Relief

The government announced that Nurseries would not pay Business rates in 20-21.

Of course to qualify a setting needs to be directly paying business rates, so if it is included in your rent you will probably be ineligible.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (22/3/20)

Under this scheme organisations who have furlowed their staff  ( sent them home) will be able to claim 80% of their salary bill up to £2500 a month per employee. HMRC should be in touch with all organisations who operate PAYE about this as soon as the scheme goes live. The expectation is that no money will be paid out until late April.

On current reading, this will not cover staff who are still working.

Business Rates (22/3/20)

Nursery Businesses that pay business rates will be given a rates holiday for 2020/21 during this period they will pay no business rates.

This does not apply to childminders unless they have a separate dedicated building that pays business rates.

Finally

For Health related and general  information: