From Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December, national lockdown restrictions are in place in England. Early years settings and childminders can remain open and parents can continue to use these settings as normal.
Foundation Years will continue to provide updates via our mailing list, Facebook, Twitter and on the Foundation Years website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This document answers the FAQs from the early years sector on the national lockdown. These answers have been checked with the Department for Education (DfE) and cover:
- Attending more than one setting
- Outdoor learning
- Visits to early years settings
- EYFS disapplications and Paediatric First Aid
- Safety measures in settings
- Funding and financial support
- + more
If you have any further questions, please submit these to foundationyears@ncb.org.uk.
New guidance
DfE published guidance on 4 November on how the new national restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 impact early years settings.
This guidance should be read in conjunction with:
- Actions for early years and childcare providers during the COVID-19 outbreak – updated 5 November.
- Early years foundation stage (EYFS) disapplications – updated 7 October.
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) extension to 2021 – published 5 November.
- Legislation underpinning national restrictions – published 3 November.
- Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 – updated 4 November.
- Ofsted update on how they will carry out their work during the lockdown – updated 3 November.
COVID-19 resources hub
The Foundation Years COVID-19 resources hub will continue to be updated to include the latest information and guidance on the national lockdown, in addition to hosting a variety of resources to support early years settings during the COVID-19 outbreak.