I recognise these are difficult times but I want to reassure you that we will get through this together.
In response to the outbreak of coronavirus and the increasing number of confirmed cases in the UK, the Government has closed early years providers. Early years providers will only remain open to the children of critical workers who are vital to our fight against coronavirus, such as NHS staff, police and delivery drivers, and the most vulnerable children. Children who do not fall into these groups should remain at home with appropriate care.
Clearly this decision will have a big impact on early years providers and so I am pleased that the Government has acted swiftly to support providers. To support private early years providers, the Chancellor has decided that they will now be eligible for a business rates holiday for one year. That means non-local authority providers of childcare will pay no business rates in 2020-21, from 1 April. The Secretary of State for Education has also confirmed that the Department for Education will continue to fully fund the free childcare entitlements, even if children are not attending. This protects a significant proportion of early years providers’ income.
Like all early years providers, childminders must close and should only provide places for vulnerable children or the children of critical workers.
Under existing registration arrangements, childminders can work for up to 50 per cent of the time on non-domestic premises. If childminders have the capacity and there is a local need, they could help support with staff shortages in centre-based childcare provision. Childminders who do not already have approval to work up to 50 per cent of their time on non-domestic premises will need to seek approval from Ofsted, after seeking initial support from their local authority.
I understand local authorities are expected to follow the Government's position and to continue early entitlements funding for all childminders currently delivering funded hours to children in their setting, regardless of whether children are able to attend due to coronavirus.
For the self-employed, including childminders, the minimum income floor will be temporarily relaxed, meaning Universal Credit can be accessed at a rate to match statutory sick pay.
