Early years leaders 'disappointed' nursery workers are not on self-isolation exemption list

Early years leaders are “disappointed” with the government’s decision not to add the early years sector to the list of key workers to be exempt from self-isolation and calls for the government to “provide urgent financial support” to those nurseries having to close during this third wave.

This is after the government released a list of 16 sectors where fully vaccinated workers may be exempt from isolation if they are contacted by the NHS app after coming into close contact with a positive Covid-19 case.

Workers in the following 16 sectors will be exempt from self-isolation: energy, civil nuclear, digital infrastructure, food production and supply, waste, water, veterinary medicines, essential chemicals, essential transport, medicines, medical devices, clinical consumable supplies, emergency services, border control, essential defence outputs, and local government.

The Environment Secretary George Eustice has said these emergency measures to exempt these 16 sectors from coronavirus self-isolation rules will not be extended to other businesses.

Neil Leitch, Early Years Alliance chief executive, said: “We are aware that the number of early years staff being asked to self-isolate is having a detrimental impact on providers’ ability to offer the essential early care and education that parents rely on. That includes the children of those key workers being asked to leave isolation for the purposes of keeping our essential services running.

“Since July of last year, the early years sector has been considered essential. So essential that even when schools closed, our settings were asked to remain open to all children - in spite of the risks to providers and their families - to ensure the country continued to run. That’s why it is absurd that government would not now include those same people in this exemption for critical workers.”

The Alliance said they are in “conversation with the government” to understand why the early years has not been “included in the exemptions,” and how settings can be supported to “navigate this period of rapidly rising case rates.”

Mr Leitch added: “Early years providers continue to offer an essential service throughout the summer months when schools are closed.”

'The government needs to act to avoid temporary closures becoming more permanent'

Newly released data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) state coronavirus cases are continuing to increase throughout the UK.

In England, an estimated 741,700 people had coronavirus in the week ending 17 July. One person in 75 was estimated to have the virus - up from 1 in 95 the previous week.

In Scotland, an estimated 65,100 people had coronavirus in the week ending 17 July. One person in 80 was estimated to have the virus - up from one in 90 the previous week.

In Wales, an estimated 14,400 people had coronavirus in the week ending 17 July. One person in 210 was estimated to have the virus - up from one in 360.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said they had been “urging government ministers and departments to include early years workers in the list of critical services” since the proposed exemptions were announced.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the NDNA said the early years sector “have been providing childcare for critical workers throughout the pandemic and are a vital part of our national infrastructure.

“Every day we are hearing of more and more nurseries having to close due to staff self-isolating, and if there is a safe way of avoiding that for those who have been vaccinated – this should be available to our crucial early years sector. It is disappointing that once again the government has failed to recognise the scale of the challenge nurseries and childcare providers are facing.”

Recent survey findings from the NDNA and the Education Policy Institute found 344 early years settings across England, Wales and Scotland show that a quarter (25 per cent) of settings had to partially close between the months of February and May, while 12 per cent of settings were forced to fully close.

When asked the reasons for closures, a majority of early years settings (53 per cent) cited staff members or children were self-isolating.

Ms Takuku added: “In the last wave, as many as three quarters of nurseries had to close and each time this happens it means disruption for children and parents. It also means another financial hit for nurseries with lost income and ongoing costs still to meet.

“The government needs to act to avoid temporary closures becoming more permanent. They must provide urgent financial support to those who face partial or full closure in this third wave of infections.”

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