Nursery World - Early years settings divided on readiness to reopen for more children

With early years settings and schools expected to reopen to more children from 1 June, the sector is split between those who say they are ready and those who are worried that they cannot guarantee the safety of children and staff amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

High Meadows’ dinosaur helps explain the rules to children

As Nursery World went to press (28 May), the Government was set to give final confirmation on the reopening to more children, and had just published guidance for the sector on bank holiday Sunday.

As of the same date, the total number of Covid-19 associated UK deaths had exceeded 37,000.

Two new surveys reflect the division and uncertainty in the sector (see news online).

A survey of 6,300 providers by the Early Years Alliance finds that 65 per cent of childcare providers are planning to reopen more widely on 1 June, while 20 per cent are not and 15 per cent are unsure. The Alliance’s separate survey of 4,490 parents finds that 44 per cent are planning on taking up their child’s place, 42 per cent are not, with 13 per cent undecided.

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