zigzag

I totally understand what you mean. So far next week we have between 5-10 children wanting to attend. None have key worker parents, most have parents that don’t work and a couple who are currently furloughed. I am incandescent with rage that we are being put in this position so they can have their “me time”

Cornwall are paying also.

I was warned last night in a nice round about way to keep my mouth shut and not say what I think! I’m staying off our messenger page and watching with interest as the chairperson deals with the parents.

Two classes, cases or glasses Sunnyday? If it’s two cases, then you stand no hope of reading it!

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care?fbclid=IwAR3Ghy8VcWweRuGEcjMxicxccE1hQc5vgy2foCefdI8eyH_LSGjipE4mmpc

I think the questions were cherry picked! Have you seen the response to the EYA question to the DFE about why we are open? It’s a joke. I have been immersing myself in social media today and the amount of early years providers who have said that they have all had the virus in their setting is frightening. The Department for Education has provided the below response to queries on why early years providers have been asked to remain open while schools have been instructed to close, following our meeting with children and families minister Vicky Ford earlier today: The reason schools have been restricted is not that they are unsafe but because additional measures are needed to contain the spread of the virus. The wider restrictions in place as part of the national lockdown to contain the spread of the virus in the community enable us to continue prioritising keeping nurseries and childminders open, supporting parents and delivering the crucial care and education needed for our youngest children. Early years settings remain low risk environments for children and staff. 0-5 year olds continue to have the lowest confirmed rates of coronavirus of all age groups, and there is no evidence that the new variant of coronavirus disproportionately affects young children. Evidence shows that pre-school children are less susceptible to infection and are not playing a driving role in transmission. There is no evidence the new strain of the virus causes more serious illness in either children or adults and there continues to be strong evidence that children are much less susceptible to severe clinical disease than older people. PHE advice remains that the risk of transmission and infection is low if early years settings follow the system of controls, which reduce risks and create inherently safer environments. Early years settings have been open to all children since 1 June and there is no evidence that the early years sector has contributed to a rise in virus cases within the community. Early evidence from SAGE showed that early years provision had a smaller relative impact on transmission rate than primary schools, which in turn had a smaller relative impact than secondary schools. Early years childcare providers were one of the first sectors to have restrictions lifted last summer, in recognition of the key role they play in society. Childminders and nursery staff across the country have worked hard to keep settings open through the pandemic so that young children can be educated, and parents can work. The earliest years are the most crucial point of child development and attending early education lays the foundation for lifelong learning and supports children’s social and emotional development. We continue to prioritise keeping early years settings open in full because of the clear benefits to children’s education and wellbeing and to support working parents. Caring for the youngest age group is not something that can be done remotely. We are continuing to share your queries and concerns with the Department for Education and will provide further updates as soon as we can.

It’s really shocking! And 60,000 new cases today.

We are staying shut until next week so we can thrash out an agreement! It very much looks like we will be opening for a very small number and reducing hours.

So those who are closing what are you doing about paying staff or not?

Ahh bless his heart. Good for you Sunnyday. Xx

So a member of my committee is now starting work for us as an assistant, I know her committee DBS will not cover her but she has an enhanced DBS as a school governor and is signed to the update service. Is this sufficient to use as a staff members DBS?

Our outdoor area is a large tarmac area. Our current everyday provision outside includes, large sit in sand pit area, sand kitchen, slide, climbing A frame and ladders, hollow blocks, balance bikes and ride on toys. Our playground is completely open to the Cornish elements and has no shelter. I feel as we are spending more and more time outside that we need more activities/resources available. I am applying for a grant and am interested in finding out what you have and what works well in your provision. Please bombard me with ideas.