On Saturday 31 October, the Prime Minister announced a four-week national lockdown in England from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December.
The legislation underpinning lockdown restrictions was published this morning, and guidance has been updated to confirm that early years settings and childminders can remain open, and parents can continue to use these settings as normal.
Parents will be able to access other childcare activities (including wraparound care and some out of school settings) where reasonably necessary to enable parents to work, seek work, attend education or training, or for the purposes of respite care for carers.
Parent and child groups (including baby and toddler groups) can continue where they provide support to parent and/or child, and children under 5 will not be counted within the 15 person limit – meaning parents and carers can attend such groups in larger numbers.
DfE will provide further information over the coming days. If you have any questions, please submit these to foundationyears@ncb.org.uk and we will pass them on to DfE.
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