Coronavirus (Covid-19): latest information and advice

In  response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Early Years Wales will be keeping its members up-to-date with latest information.

Child Washing Hands

On Monday 5 October, the Minister of Education and the Welsh Language announced that it is no longer recommended that children under the age of 5 years old take COVID-19 tests without symptoms. Where children under 5 do have symptoms tests are not routinely recommended unless directed to do so by a doctor or if parents believe a test is absolutely necessary and in the best interests of the child.

This announcement and details of testing changes for secondary aged school pupils can be found here.

The FAQ's have since been updated to explain the changes for the Under 5's in more detail and they can be found

The Action Cards have also been updated. The Childcare and Playwork Guidance will be updated shortly.

These changes will formally come into effect from Monday 11 October.

 

Childcare Settings: Potential reasonable measures action card (coronavirus)  

Guidance issued by Welsh Government to help childcare providers protect children, staff and visitors.

These Action Cards outline the potential reasonable measures that settings can take to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

They should be read alongside the Childcare and Playwork COVID-19 Guidance.

Further Action Cards are available, including on Organised Children’s Activities and Soft Play and Indoor Play Areas.

Written statement from Welsh Government following today's lunchtime briefing regarding testing of all staff in all registered childcare and education settings

https://gov.wales/written-statement-testing-offer-schools-colleges-and-c...

The link below has the FAQs about lateral flow testing for your information:

https://gov.wales/routine-testing-education-and-childcare-staff

This further link provides the information for administering the lateral flow tests:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/instructions-for-covid-19-self-test

 

Guidance issued by UK Government has been updated to reflect the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to 30 April 2021. Supporting resources have been sent to all Early Years Wales members.

If you haven’t received this email please drop us an email at [email protected]

Please keep checking this post for updates, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages:

Facebook: Early Years Wales

Twitter: @EarlyWales

Dear members,

On behalf of Early Years Wales, as CEO, I have written to all members in response to the member questions we have been receiving. Please check your email addresses for this update. As was the case in March and April 2020, I will endeavour to keep all the members updated regularly with policy updates from Welsh Government whilst we are in Level 4 Alert status.

I am aware that people have concerns and want to understand decisions that are made to keep childcare open and restrict access to schools. I will do my best to share accurate and validated information with you as timely as possible. Our staff around Wales are available to support you and I will continue to raise your views at all levels in support of our members.

Thank you for all that you are doing in your settings to work with your children and families and to safeguard staff in these challenging days.

Dave Goodger

The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has confirmed that childcare settings can open more widely to support the economy of Wales. In his speech today, he talked about allowing Childcare to open more widely from Monday 22nd June on a phased basis.

He said 'to support a return to work for more people, there will be a gradual reopening of childcare facilities, operating under new guidelines developed with the sector.To help reduce the risk of transmission, we are asking that children attend just one setting wherever possible. If a child attends more than one setting, such as school and childcare, they should remain in the same, small consistent group across both.'

The written statement, is available directly below:

Review of Lockdown Measures and The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020

To support the sector Welsh Government have updated the following papers 

Childcare for under five year olds parents guidance: coronavirus

Childcare for under five year olds providers guidance: coronavirus

COVID-19 workforce risk assessment tool

First Minister confirms wider re-opening of childcare
Welsh Government

Guidance to support childcare settings to reopen and to operate safely has now been published.  This guidance has been developed with childcare umbrella bodies and other key stakeholders and includes detailed information on areas such as infection prevention and control, applying the Test, Trace Protect Strategy in childcare settings, and social mixing.

Please click on the link below to view the guidance:

As a way of helping you move forward and plan ahead, we have produced a checklist to help you think about steps you will need to take to safely open your doors again.

Re-opening your childcare setting needs to be done in a way which puts the safety of children, staff and parents first.

For more information click here.

CIW have published an adapted Registration Guidance document for applications. Download it from our dedicated CIW page here.

Cwlwm pleads for more support on behalf of childcare sector. 

“We feel that the childcare sector is being ignored and that no one seemingly cares. The sector will be essential both in the short, medium and long term for economic regeneration. If the sector is not supported now many settings will struggle to re-open. They are going to need financial support to rebuild. They need assurances now that support is there.”

Read the full press release below. 

CWLWM pleads for more support on behalf of childcare sector
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PDF icon Cwlwm Letter233.85 KB
Cwlwm

Cwlwm is collecting information on behalf of Welsh Government to identify Childcare Practitioners and Playwork Practitioners from Childcare Settings who may be currently laid off or furloughed, who would potentially be willing to join a bank of voluntary/paid, suitably qualified staff to work in Childcare Settings elsewhere.

Please follow this link to find more information: Childcare and Playwork Practitioner Covid-19 Survey (16/04/2020)

Please check your email for support documents on the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the latest HMRC briefing on the application process.

If you haven’t received this email please drop us an email at [email protected]

Some top tips to remember for your Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) Registered Childcare Setting whether it is open or closed during Covid-19 Outbreak:

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PDF icon Top Tips to Remember114.92 KB
Cwlwm

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) have created a key worker template for members to amend, in case they are questioned by the police on their travel to work.

This letter should be accompanied with a form of ID – this could include a driving licence or a staff ID card.

Download and edit the template below: 

Downloads
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File Keyworker template (Editable)12.24 KB
NDNA

Yesterday, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Care, Julie Morgan announced that for a temporary period critical workers in Wales would be entitled to free childcare.

More detailed guidance for parents and providers is outlined on the following link;

For providers, this includes the following topics:

Above email communication issued from Early Years Wales to all members this morning regarding this announcement.

If you haven’t received this email or as a member need to discuss this in more detail or have any questions please email us at  [email protected] identifying where your provision is based and our regional teams will get back to you.
 



How do I access childcare as a critical worker in my local authority?

In addition to yesterdays announcement the Cwlwm partners are working closely with Local Authorities in Wales through the Family Information Services (FIS) to support the sector and help them to promote childcare availability and processes for families of children of critical workers and vulnerable children.

Please download a table by Local Authority to support families in finding childcare where they are critical workers or have vulnerable children. Many childcare settings in Wales are providing a service and have availability. We will continue to update this guidance as further information is received.

One-off grants and support which are potentially available to childcare providers.

The Welsh Government has published the following link on its website signposting childcare providers to sources of potential one-off grants and other financial support that might be applicable to you during coronavirus: Welsh Government Coronavirus support

Cwlwm have outlined many of this potential funding sources in the below documents. We advise providers to check the above link often as it is updated regularly.
 



Did you receive your e-bulletin from CIW on Friday 3rd April?

It contains an important update on how you can use CIW Online to inform the inspectorate of a settings closure.

To read the bulletin in full click here: CIW Bulletin

Alternatively visit the dedicated coronavirus information area on the CIW website which can be viewed directly from here: CIW Coronavirus-Covid 19 Updates
 



Business Wales have launched a brand new series of webinars providing advice to SMEs across the country affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. For more info and to book onto these free events visit: Sell2Wales

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PDF icon Grants PDF226.82 KB
Cwlwm
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PDF icon Grantiau PDF257.54 KB
Cwlwm

We know that the outbreak of Covid-19 is forcing a lot of providers to carefully manage their expenses and insurance is one them. Before you do though, the Cwlwm partnership have put together a few important points to consider.

To find out more download the document below:

Before you cancel or decide not to renew your insurance have you considered the following?
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PDF icon Things to consider: Insurance. 595.94 KB
Cwlwm

Please find below some useful business support information that has recently been emailed to all members:

Business Support:

NSPCC have provided advice on how you can support and talk to children & young people who are anxious about coronavirus (COVID-19). Click on the link below for more information: 

Business Support
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PDF icon Summary of business support schemes108.31 KB

Today Welsh Government have published information on the support available for childcare providers during the coronavirus pandemic. You can read the full update below:

https://gov.wales/support-childcare-providers-coronavirus
 


Arweiniad i Leoliadau Gofal Plant – Covid-19 | Guidance for childcare settings – Covid-19

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi’r arweiniad diweddaraf ar Coronafeirws a Lleoliadau Gofal plant ynghyd â’r cwestiynau cyffredin diweddaraf ar: https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws-darpariaeth-gofal-plant

Welsh Government have published the latest guidance on Coronavirus and Childcare settings with the latest frequently asked questions (FAQs) at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-and-childcare-provision

Guidance for Childcare Settings from CWLWM
Covid19

Kirsty Williams Education Minister for Wales provides latest statement on access to schools and childcare settings. Schools and childcare still open to children of critical workers. The advice has not changed as a result of last night's decision to further restrict movement, which the First Minister for Wales, along with other UK leaders took with the sole aim of slowing the spread of coronavirus. Read the full statement here: https://gov.wales/the-latest-advice-on-access-to-schools-from-education-minister-kirsty-williams  

CIW update and five things you need to know before sending your child to school or childcare provider:

Key workers

Unsure what is classed as a ‘critical worker’ in the COVID-19 response? The above flow chart may help

Update on Welsh Government website: advice for parents and childcare providers during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Information includes FAQ’s on financial support, closures and definitions of key workers.

Keep an eye on this page for updates: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-and-childcare-provision

Email communication issued from Early Years Wales to all members on 20.03.20 with the latest Government guidance, as well as important information regarding your membership renewal for 2020/21. If you haven’t received this email please drop us an email at [email protected].  

The Welsh Government announced a package of support worth more than £200m for small businesses to help them during the coronavirus outbreak. Retail, leisure, hospitality and other small businesses can get support to help during the disturbance caused by coronavirus (COVID-19). They are also currently exploring what further support they can provide. More information on the grants and loans for businesses to help during the disruption can be found on the Welsh Government website here: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19-support-businesses  

The following letter has been sent this afternoon to Welsh Government from the CWLWM partnership – Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids Clubs, Early Years Wales, Mudiad Meithrin, NDNA Cymru & Pacey Cymru – in response to the packet of measures announced today to protect workers in the form of direct financial “business support”: Joint letter to Welsh Government from Cwlwm 

The Cwlwm partnership is collecting information, on behalf of Welsh Government, to identify Childcare Practitioners from Childcare Settings which cannot operate, who would potentially be willing to join a bank of staff that may be deployed to work in Childcare Settings elsewhere. Cwlwm appreciate that these are unprecedented and uncertain times for the Childcare sector and its workforce. The current advice and guidance on Covid-19 is ever changing, so whilst we collect this information in good faith at the time of publication it may not be required. I hope that you will appreciate this and will complete the survey under these assumptions. If interested, please submit a short expression of interest so that we may supply details to key partners such as Welsh Government, Local Authorities and Care Inspectorate Wales.  

Email communication issued from Early Years Wales to all members with the latest information and guidance as per 17.03.20 If you haven't received this email please drop us an email at [email protected]. 

Welsh Government have announced that the Childcare Offer for Wales payments will continue even if children do not attend due to coronavirus isolation. Funding will also continue where staffing numbers fall to a level that the setting is no longer safe to operate. More info on this statement here: https://gov.wales/childcare-offer-wales-payments-will-continue-even-if-children-do-not-attend-due-coronavirus  

Kirsty Williams has announced that schools will close from Friday 20th March https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51947148 At this point this does not extend to childcare and childcare settings should remain open unless there is a medical reason for closure. Please check CIW for a formal announcement on childcare provision and funding arrangements.  

This link contains Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance from Doctors of the World in 20 languages:   https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/193qQN9l04Dvf0N9L5zeWTiXK_DRbrAxg  

Have you seen these resources designed to help adults talk to children about the coronavirus and how we can help our neighbours who may be self-isolating:

Email received from Welsh Government and includes updates for childcare, schools, FE, HE, and Work Based Learning on 12.03.20:

The Welsh Government is working closely with the other UK nations to ensure a consistent, public health-led approach to the Coronavirus situation. At the COBRA meeting today, all four Governments agreed to move from containment to delay. The Chief Medical Officers’ advice is clear; that schools, colleges and childcare settings, should not be closed at this stage. These decisions are based on the latest scientific evidence. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised schools, colleges and universities against international travel, including school trips overseas. Advice and guidance to educational settings will be updated to reflect revised advice.  https://gov.wales/guidance-educational-settings-about-covid-19

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