Sounds like a bit of a fuck you to parents of preschoolers

[pandarific]

...doesn't it? What the hell is the logic behind primary children possibly going back but not nurseries or childminders?

Or has he just missed them out and they'll be included in guidance tomorrow? (Clutches at straws)

They're asking how children can social distance not because they want to know, but to point out its impossibility.

Sorry if this has already been discussed but is it known if the guidance is likely to cover those who rely on family for childcare? Has this even been thought about at all? There must be lots of people in this situation but not seeing it being talked about.

Corilee2806 I work in a school and loads of the Teachers I work with have young children who are usually looked after by grandparents. My own DM (late 50's, very fit and healthy) is very frustrated that the rules allow for my toddler to be in nursery/a childminder mixing with various adults and children of NHS staff who are dealing with covid infected patients but not for her to look after him.

You're allowed to have a nanny come to your home for childcare. Just say your mum is your nanny. They're not doing house calls to check. Just use your common sense.

I'm guessing because you can't practice social distancing with babies and toddlers.

It's just been said that childminders can start back from Wednesday for England.

My mum isn’t my childcare provider - it’s my sis in law, has children of her own and another job so not straightforward. Will of course use common sense but helpful to know the parameters within which to apply it! Hopefully the guidance will help.

If nurseries are opening on the 1st June, are they likely to be open for all? Surely if schools aren't expected to have all the children in at once then nurseries wouldn't be either? My nursery has roughly 100 children per day.

The main document says
“Schools should prepare to begin to open for more children from 1 June. The Givernment expects children to be able to return to early years settings and, for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school in smaller sizes, from this point”.
(Page 30).
That sounds like all back and no reduction in class size for nurseries, but maybe smaller classes in schools.

Nurseries are private businesses, not state schools.

Same as childminders.

@FaggotsnGreyPeas I don’t believe that there is any distinction, in terms of Covid response, between state and private childcare. Eg independent schools have to follow same rules as state schools.

I think the Govt has caused a load of confusion re childminders though because they say at page 26 “the Government is amending its guidance to clarify that paid childcare, for example nannies and childminders, can take place subject to being able to meet the public health principles at Annex A, because these are roles where working from home is not possible”

This misses the point that most childminders do work from home, it’s the kids who go to them! Not clear if they had in mind some other sort of “childminder” arrangement where the childminder goes to the family.

Has anyone heard anything from their nursery today just out of interest? I haven’t yet but they are usually quite good at keeping in touch/updating us regarding things so I’m hoping they are in touch soon to confirm when they can reopen

I haven't yet. I know that our nursery is desperate to reopen.

Mine says more to follow but they think no more children until 1st June. They were very apologetic, saying they understand some of their parents must return to work but they currently aren't able to help.

@2beautifulbabs wales, scotland and N.ireland all have pretty much the same guidence and are making very similar changes, and seem to be presenting a united front and method to dealing with CV.
England on the other hand is doing whatever it wants.

Other countries that have opened schools eg germany, who have much better testing, contact tracing, social rules eg use of face masks, have found that their r value has gone up recently as lockdown has begun easing.

I really dont know why Johnson seems to think that the UK, (with shambolic testing, no contact tracing, a pathetic imitation of lockdown, no facemask or any other suggestions that are backed by science, and a r value higher currently then other countries that started making comparable changes), will be immune from a second wave. And second waves are usually more economically damaging then the first throughout history of pandemics

Well we were supposed to get "clarification" today but in the entire 60 page document, they failed to mention nurseries at all! Just nannies and childminders. Why on earth did they not say "early years settings" or "registered childcare providers including preschools, nurseries and childminders". I'm sure the clarification about nannies is welcome, but they should have also specified whether it is ok for unpaid childcare providers (grandparents, family, others) to provide childcare.

Can't believe we've been waiting patiently for these announcements for so bloody long and it's all so fucking vague

I think nurseries will reopen for more children on 1st June but it would be good to have that confirmed! The nursery managers and staff (as well as childminders and others) must be so frustrated about not being able to plan.

AnotherEmma frustrating! I was waiting to see too from the document

The document does say early years settings.

Both my nursery and childminder have confirmed that they plan to reopen on 1st June providing the tests are met.

They said there was further guidance coming which might contain things like a limit on numbers (although that’s just guess work) and they will update us as soon as they can. Further guidance expected in the next few days apparently.

Here

Elmer
Thank you, i must have been reading a different document - at least it does say "early years settings" somewhere!
Still so vague though isn't it 😭