First Published 05.08.2020 Revised 24.09.2020

LOCAL RECOVERY GUIDANCE FOR EARLY YEARS,

CHILDCARE AND OUT OF SCHOOL – 24 September 2020

Frequently Asked Questions and coronavirus information for

settings regarding provision from September)

Contact us: childcare@hants.gov.uk

This guidance is subject to change and will be updated as further guidance is received from the

Government, including the Department for Education (DfE).

Maintained Nursery Schools/Primary Schools with Nursery Units should note that these FAQs are

written primarily to childcare providers in the Private, Voluntary and Independent Sector, although

much of the content will be relevant. Specific advice and guidance for schools will be through Schools

Communications and School Improvement Partners.

Contents

1. Information and Support for all Settings............................................................................ 1

1.1 Government Guidance ............................................................................................... 1

1.2 Data Collection ........................................................................................................... 1

1.3 Business Support ....................................................................................................... 3

EYE Funding Update .................................................................................................... 3

Government Support Packages .................................................................................... 3

Additional Support ........................................................................................................ 5

1.4 Business Operations .................................................................................................. 6

Sickness in Provision – Suspected & Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus ........................ 7

Cleaning and Hygiene .................................................................................................. 8

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ........................................................................ 10

Staffing Requirements ................................................................................................ 11

Access and Arrangements .......................................................................................... 11

Ofsted Information ...................................................................................................... 13

1.5 Communications with Parents/Carers ....................................................................... 14

Family Information and Services Hub (FISH) / Local Offer.......................................... 15

Parent Concerns ........................................................................................................ 15

30 Hours Entitlement .................................................................................................. 15

Safeguarding .............................................................................................................. 16

1.6 Training and Resources ........................................................................................... 16

Transition ................................................................................................................... 16

Webinars .................................................................................................................... 16

Home-Learning Materials ........................................................................................... 17

Summer Safety ........................................................................................................... 17

First Published 05.08.2020 Revised 24.09.2020

2. Guidance for Settings from September 2020 .................................................................. 18

2.1 Admissions and Group Sizes .................................................................................... 18

2.2 Shared Care ............................................................................................................. 19

3. Additional Links & Information ........................................................................................ 20

What’s New?

Please be advised that unless there are any major guidance changes, this will be our last

FAQ update. Key updates will now be issued through our provider bulletin. If you do not

receive this, please let us know at childcare@hants.gov.uk

The section regarding guidance for settings open over summer 2020 has been removed as it

is no longer relevant.

1.1 Government Guidance

Referenced updated information and guidance for childcare and Out of School providers.

1.2 Data Collection

Clarified that our weekly return will continue until further notice. Added information about Ofsted data collection which has been issued to some providers.

1.3 EYE Funding Update

Added link to letter issued regarding autumn EYE arrangements

1.3 Government Support Packages

Updated information and links regarding furlough and changes from 1 September.

1.3 Additional Support

Added information about fair parent charges.

1.4 Sickness in Provision

Added link to new publication “What to do if a child is displaying symptoms of coronavirus”, and information about new DfE advice line. Updated to be in line with current guidance.

1.4 Cleaning and Hygiene

Included information for providers who carry our supervised teeth cleaning programmes.

1.4 Outings

Updated to be in line with the current guidance.

1.4 Ofsted Information

Added clarity about extension of Ofsted fee invoice deadline. Added in details about the lifting of disapplications from 25 September.

1.5 Family Information and Services Hub

Added details of how to upload documents to FISH records.

2.1 September - Admissions and Group Sizes

Updated to be in line with the current guidance.

2.2 September - Shared Care

Updated to be in line with the current guidance.

3. Additional Links & Information

Added new information links for providers.

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1. Information and Support for all Settings

During these unprecedented times we have seen an incredible response from our childcare

providers. Thanks to all of your hard work, children across Hampshire have been able to

access the care and support they need. Since settings have been able to reopen more widely

from 1 June, we have seen approximately 85% of our settings reopen and over 10,000

children return to childcare.

1.1 Government Guidance

All of the relevant guidance information specific to our sector can be found on:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare

Within this, a specific subset of guidance for the early years and childcare sector has been

created: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-

covid-19

There is a separate Government guidance for schools. Here is the link for this information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

The full guidance detailing the actions that settings must take if there is a Coronavirus

outbreak can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-

19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-

closures This is the main guidance document for early years and childcare settings

including childminders caring for those under the age of 5. This was last updated on 22

September 2020.

The Government has released detailed guidance regarding the operation of Out of School

settings during the Coronavirus outbreak.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-

clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-

outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-

outbreak. This is the main guidance document for all Out of School providers,

including childminders caring for those aged 5 and over. This was last updated on 20

August 2020.

We advise you to sign up for updates on specific topics via Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/email-

signup?link=/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

If you have read these guidance documents in full, and continue to have any concerns

or queries, please contact Services for Young Children via childcare@hants.gov.uk as

soon as possible.

1.2 Data Collection

The DfE is still requesting information from us regarding children attending childcare across

Hampshire. To this end, we are continuing with our mandatory weekly return until further

notice. All settings providing care to early years children are required to complete the form.

This includes maintained settings and school-based nursery settings, as this return is

separate to the data the DfE is collecting from you directly.

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The form can be found here: Weekly Return Regarding all Children in Attendance

This weekly collection must be completed for all children attending your setting, by 10am on

a Thursday so we can provide information to the DfE by Thursday evening.

Please complete this form with the number of children that attended your setting on

the Wednesday. If you are not operational on the Wednesday, then please provide us

with the data for the previous working day when you were operational.

If you have any parents who you have been unable to provide care for as a result of your

reduced capacity, you can refer them to us via our online form so that we can help them to

find alternate provision:

https://childrenshampshirecc.researchfeedback.net/s.asp?k=159353789726

Data Collection

Frequency Purpose Who needs to complete?

CHILDMINDERS, PRIVATE VOLUNTARY INDEPENDENT & SCHOOLS Weekly Return Regarding all Children in Attendance

Weekly, providing Wednesday’s data by midday on the Thursday.

Data is being used by us to inform the DfE how many early years children are in care across the PVI and school-based sector, and so we can determine how many settings are open/closed/dormant.

• All early years’ providers

• Nursery schools, pre-schools, childminders, nursery units of ind. schools

• Maintained/governor-run nursery units of schools

• Schools providing for children younger than Year R

• Out of school providers This form needs to be completed weekly by all open settings. Closed and dormant settings only need to complete once until they are reopened.

Vulnerable children weekly return

Weekly To ensure we can monitor the whereabouts of our most vulnerable children and families

This is sent directly to those providers who are required to complete it.

SCHOOLS ONLY The DfE is continuing the school’s data collection from 1 September 2020. Details of this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-recording-for-educational-settings

Ofsted has also been in contact with some providers to establish whether they are open or

closed. This was detailed in their rolling update. If you have been contacted by Ofsted, it is

vital that you contact them to inform them of your plans from September.

Extract from Ofsted rolling update: Ofsted: coronavirus (COVID-19) rolling update (Updated 17

September)

We have been working with the DfE and local authorities to find out which early years providers,

including childminders, are currently open or temporarily closed. This is to help find out if there is

sufficient and accessible childcare available and to help support vulnerable children as best we can.

On 24 August, we wrote to providers where we did not know if they were open or closed, to ask about

their setting and plans for September. Please check that this email comes from an @ofsted.gov.uk

address before responding as soon as you can.

If your operating circumstances do change (you open or close), please notify us by sending an email

to enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk with ‘Change in operating hours’ in the subject field. In the body of the

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email, please confirm the unique reference number for each setting and the details of the change.

You can find your URN on your registration, your inspection report(s), and on your Ofsted reports

page.

1.3 Business Support

EYE Funding Update

On 20 July, the DfE published updated guidance for Local Authorities regarding the use of

free early education entitlements funding during Coronavirus (COVID-19). The full guidance

can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-free-early-education-

entitlements-funding-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/use-of-free-early-education-

entitlements-funding-during-coronavirus-covid-19

The DfE has issued this statement about only funding closed settings from autumn if they are

closed by Public Health.

Extract from DfE Guidance: Use of free early education entitlements funding during coronavirus

(Updated 20 July)

From the start of the autumn term 2020, local authorities should continue to fund providers which are

open at broadly the levels they would have expected to see in the 2020 autumn term had there been

no coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. They should also continue to fund providers which have been

advised to close, or left with no option but to close, due to public health reasons. Local authorities

should not fund providers which are closed, without public health reason, from the start of the autumn

term.

Details of the Autumn EYE arrangements were sent to all EYE providers via email on 1

September 2020. A copy of the information can be found here:

https://documents.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/AutumnEYEArrangements-

BusinessSupport.pdf

This letter also contains information about our ongoing business support offer to providers.

We will be opening the autumn headcount in the usual way, together with the usual

adjustment periods. The Headcount dates for claiming funding are below:

PROVIDER PORTAL

OPENING DATES

Autumn funding period:

1 September to

31 December 2020

PAYMENT EXPECTED

TO BE MADE BY DATE

3 - 11 September 30 September

19 - 23 October 20 November

30 November - 4 December 31 December

Government Support Packages

Full details of the Government financial support packages available to the education sector,

including the early years sector, can be found here:

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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

Further details about the support, including free webinars are also available online on the

Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-if-your-business-is-

affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19

Furlough

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is still being run by the Government. There are

further changes to the scheme from 1 September 2020. For updates and further details about

this, you should check the Government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-

wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme (Updated 7 September 2020)

Details about the changes to the scheme, including the “Flexible Furlough scheme which

enables employers to bring employees back to work but still claim for unworked hours, can

be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-coronavirus-job-

retention-scheme/changes-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

This is accompanied by additional guidance:

• Check which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention

Scheme (Updated 28 August 2020)

• Steps to take before calculating your claim using the coronavirus job retention scheme

(Updated 11 September 2020)

• Calculate how much you can claim using the coronavirus job retention scheme

(Updated 11 September 2020)

• Examples to help calculate employee’s wages (Updated 11 September 2020)

When returning staff to the workplace you should consider employment contracts. ACAS has

produced some Coronavirus guidance, including regarding returning staff to work from

furlough: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus

Self-Employment Support Scheme

Detail of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-

employment-income-support-scheme

The scheme allows you to claim a second and final taxable grant worth 70% of your average

monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and

capped at £6,570 in total.

The scheme has been extended. If you were eligible for the first grant and can confirm to

HMRC that your business has been adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020, you’ll be

able to make a claim for a second and final grant from 17 August 2020. As with the first grant

HMRC will contact you if you are eligible. You can claim for the second grant even if you did

not make a claim for the first grant.

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Further guidance about how different circumstances will effect eligibility for the scheme can

be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-different-circumstances-affect-the-self-

employment-income-support-scheme

Statutory Sick Pay

The Government has released further details about claiming back Statutory Sick Pay that

may have been paid to employees as a result of Coronavirus. You can check if you are

eligible for the scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-

paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19

Additional Support

The Department for Business has pulled together a helpful list of additional support resources

for employers and employees. These are from a range of public bodies, charities and

organisations: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-support-for-business-from-outside-

government

Competition and Markets Authority

The Competition and Markets Authority has published an open letter to the early years sector

regarding fair contracts with consumers and customers. A copy of this can be found here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_dat

a/file/904194/Open_letter_to_Nursery_and_Early_Years__settings.pdf

The letter provides links to more detailed guidance on:

• Consumer protection law

• Unfair contract terms

• How to write fair contracts

Providers are reminded of the following information about parent charges at this time:

Extract from DfE Guidance: Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus

(COVID-19) outbreak (Updated 22 September 2020)

The government is working hard to mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on all

parts of our society, including individuals and businesses. We expect nurseries to comply with the law

and take a reasonable and proportionate approach to parents’ and carers’ fees in the light of these

unprecedented circumstances, and to communicate any arrangements clearly with them.

Peer to Peer Support

If you are not already a member, you may wish to join the Hampshire Childcare Provider

Support Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1859273727655040/

This group gives providers a forum to seek direct support from Services for Young Children

and each other.

The Hampshire Provider Self-Sustaining Networks have also been set up to provide peer support on a range of topics specific to running and developing childcare and early years services.

‘Leads’ for the networks are practitioners from childminder and group settings who are passionate about their work and providing the best outcomes for children. As well as sharing

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their experiences and good practice, network leads are sign-posters to further support and guidance. This may be delivered through the dedicated closed district network Facebook Group or meetings that are convened specially for network members.

The following are details of the network leads, contact email/telephone and Facebook Group. To become a network member please contact the lead of your district network or sign up to your area Facebook Group.

Where there is not a network operating in your area, you are welcome to join another network

or consider volunteering to co-ordinate one for your area.

Email childcare@hants.gov.uk if you would like to know more.

1.4 Business Operations

The DfE guidance states that “Every setting should carry out a risk assessment before opening.

The assessment should directly address risks associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19), so that

sensible measures can be put in place to control those risks for children and staff. All employers have

a duty to consult employees on health and safety, and they are best placed to understand the risks in

individual settings.” (Extract Actions for Educational and Childcare Settings to Prepare for Wider

Opening)

The Government has created a tool which can be used to support reopening your business

safely. This tool helps with risk assessments and decisions on adjustments that need to be

made to the site and for the workforce: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-reopening

It is advisable to liaise with your insurance company if you are unsure if your risk assessment

meets their requirements.

The Services for Young Children Team is unable to approve policies/risk assessments

or make business decisions on your behalf. These must be made by your business

owner/committee/trustees/directors or yourself if you are a sole trader. We can provide

advice, guidance and support you however, please bear with us as we too only receive

the Government guidance when it is published on the gov.uk website.

Lead Name Area Email Facebook Group Address

Telephone

Charlotte Sherwood

Fareham & Gosport

Info@sprouts-childcare.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931545483793878/

01329 845954

Nicci Atkinson

Fareham & Gosport

nicci@oaktreefamilygroup.org

02392 513777

Emma O’Reilly

Basingstoke eloreilly@gmail.com basingstokeproviders@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/176782159552740/

01256 895977

Carey West Basingstoke mertonpresch@gmail.com basingstokeproviders@gmail.com

01256 353100 07935 267232

Jackie Restell

East Hants & Havant

orangetreechildminding@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/677702619093170/

07794 343176

Tania Grimwood

New Forest taniagrimwood@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/104519763644243/

07719305473

Sarah Bower New Forest sarahdewhurst@live.co.uk 02380 283776

Claire Larkin

Hart & Rushmoor

clairelarkin60@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/343938606055468/

07967 454476

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You could also prepare a social distancing statement which will outline how you will ensure

social distancing is upheld in your provision.

It would be pertinent to review sickness and behaviour policies in line with the guidance and

you may wish to prepare Parent/Carer agreements which will outline the service you will

provide and the standards you expect them to uphold in return, ensuring the safety of you,

your staff and the children in your care.

These documents should be openly communicated with parents/carers. Further details on

communicating with parents can be seen later in this document.

Full details of the required systems of control and required protective measures can be found

in the DfE guidance: Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus

(COVID-19) outbreak. This was updated on 22 September. The details of infection prevention

and control measures are in Section 3 of the guidance. A summary of the measures, taken

from the above linked guidance, can be seen below.

Sickness in Provision – Suspected & Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus

The DfE has created a new quick reference sheet regarding what to do if a child is displaying

symptoms of coronavirus. This provides clear information that can also be shared with

parents.

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A new advice service has been set up by the DfE who you should contact in the event of a

confirmed case. Settings are now asked to call the DfE’s helpline on 0800 046 8687 and

select the option for advice following confirmation of a positive case. The line will be open

Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.00pm, and 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturdays and

Sundays.

The advice service will work with settings to carry out a rapid risk assessment to confirm who

has been in close contact with the person during the period that they were infectious, and

ensure they are asked to self-isolate. If, following triage, further expert advice is required the

adviser will escalate your call to the PHE local health protection team.

The PHE flow chart to outline the process will be updated to reflect the process with the new

DfE advice line shortly: https://documents.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/PHE-SE-HPT-

GuidanceforCCandEdusettings.pdf

If a child has any of the following symptoms then they must self-isolate:

• a high temperature

• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3

or more coughing episodes in 24 hours

• a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste

anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Even if you or a parent believes the symptoms to be as a result of teething etc, the child

cannot return to the setting until there has been a negative test. The self-isolation period has

been extended to 10 days for those in the community who have Coronavirus symptoms or a

positive test result.

It is vital that providers play their part by:

• making their settings as safe as possible for staff, children and parents

• promoting the need to get tested if anyone is symptomatic

• requesting that workers self-isolate if they have been asked to do so

• supporting their workers when in isolation

• keeping records of which children and staff are in which groups and saving this

information securely for at least 21 days

Further details for organisations and businesses on reporting outbreaks can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reporting-outbreaks-of-coronavirus-covid-

19/covid-19-early-outbreak-management

Sickness at Home

Stay at home guidance for households with possible Coronavirus infection was updated on 8

July. This includes guidance for extended families living together. An easy read guide and

chart illustration of how to deal with sickness at home can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Cleaning and Hygiene

Extract from DfE guidance: Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus

outbreak (Updated 22 September)

9

Clean hands thoroughly more often than usual

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an easy virus to kill when it is on the skin. This can be done with soap and

running water or hand sanitiser.

Settings must ensure that children clean their hands regularly, including when they arrive at the

setting, when they return from breaks, when they change rooms and before and after eating. Regular

and thorough hand cleaning is going to be needed for the foreseeable future.

Points to consider and implement:

• ensure the setting has enough hand washing or hand sanitiser ‘stations’ available so that all

children and staff can clean their hands regularly

• supervise use of hand sanitiser use given risks around ingestion. Small children and those with

complex needs should continue to be helped to clean their hands properly. Skin friendly skin

cleaning wipes can be used as an alternative

• build these routines into setting culture, and ensure younger children and those with complex

needs understand the need to follow them

Ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach

The ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach continues to be very important, so settings must ensure they have

enough tissues and bins available in the setting to support children and staff to implement this routine.

As with hand cleaning, settings must ensure younger children are helped to get this right, and all

children understand that this is now part of how the setting operates.

Some children with complex needs will struggle to maintain as good respiratory hygiene as their

peers, for example those who spit uncontrollably or use saliva as a sensory stimulant. This should be

considered in risk assessments in order to support these children and the staff working with them It is

not a reason to deny these children a place at the setting.

Face coverings are required at all times on public transport (except for children under the age of 11).

Further information can be found in face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own.

Introduce enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often using

standard products, such as detergents

To facilitate cleaning, remove unnecessary items from learning environments where there is space to

store them elsewhere. Public Health advice is to remove all soft toys, and any toys that are hard to

clean, such as those with intricate parts. Where practicable, remove soft furnishings, for example

pillows, bean bags and rugs.

Actions to consider and implement:

• in line with the risk assessment and timetabling of the day, putting in place a cleaning schedule

that ensures cleaning is generally enhanced and includes:

o more frequent cleaning of rooms that are used by different groups

o frequently touched surfaces being cleaned more often than normal

o ensuring that there are clear procedures for maintaining cleaning processes for food

preparation areas, dining areas and table coverings

• Different groups don’t need to be allocated their own toilets, but toilets will need to be cleaned

regularly and children must be encouraged to clean their hands thoroughly after using the toilet

PHE has published revised guidance for cleaning non-healthcare settings to advise on general

cleaning required in addition to the current existing advice on cleaning those settings when there is a

suspected case.

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Your risk assessments and protocols need to consider which resources are more difficult to

keep clean in the current context of infection control, and you should make your decisions on

the basis of that risk. It is your decision to consider what stays and why, and how you will

observe infection control measures in your setting.

For settings who provide supervised teeth cleaning programmes, there has been specific

guidance released to provide clarity on the infection prevention control aspects of supervised

toothbrushing programmes. This can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-supervised-toothbrushing-

programmes/covid-19-guidance-for-supervised-toothbrushing-programmes-in-early-years-

and-school-settings

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

On 21 July, the Government updated the guidance regarding safe working in education,

childcare and children’s social care, including the use of PPE.

https://ww.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-

childrens-social-care/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings-

including-the-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe

Extract from DfE Guidance: Safe working in education, childcare and children's social care,

including the use of PPE (Updated 21 July)

Most staff in education, childcare and children’s social care settings will not require PPE beyond what

they would normally need for their work, even if they are not always able to maintain a distance of 2

metres from others.

PPE is only needed in a very small number of cases if:

• an individual child, young person or other learner becomes ill with Coronavirus (COVID-19)

symptoms and only then if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained

• a child, young person or learner already has routine intimate care needs that involve the use of

PPE, in which case the same PPE should continue to be used

Education, childcare and children’s social care settings and providers are responsible for sourcing

their own PPE. Read technical specifications for personal protective equipment (PPE).

In addition to existing procurement routes, settings and local authorities can source PPE and cleaning

products through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) safer working supplies website. Suppliers

and products listed on this website meet standards set out by the Department of Health and Social

Care. Products purchased through this route will not detract from supply available to medical settings.

In addition, public sector buying organisations have pre-existing experience and relationships across

the education, childcare and children’s social care sectors.

Current DfE guidance for safe working in childcare settings does not require additional PPE

to be worn. If needed, childcare providers are responsible for obtaining their own PPE.

Hampshire County Council is following government guidance in respect of PPE for Early

Years settings.

Extract from DfE guidance: Safe working in education, childcare and children's social care,

including the use of PPE (Updated 21 July)

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If education or childcare settings cannot obtain the PPE, they need they should approach their local

authority. Local authorities should support them to access PPE suppliers and available stock locally,

including through coordinating the redistribution of available supplies between settings according to

priority needs.

If you have an urgent, unmet need for PPE which means you will not be able to operate

safely, then contact us via childcare@hants.gov.uk.

Staffing Requirements

As an employer you will need to ensure your staff are kept safe at work. The social distancing

requirements apply to staff as well as the children you will be providing care for. You will

need to consider employment contracts, and further resources regarding safe working have

been created by ACAS: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus

Providers who use agencies to staff their settings should ensure that they understand the

Coronavirus policies and arrangements of that agency. As agency staff may move from one

setting to another over a short period of time, understanding their policies will help to

minimise transmission.

Shielding

The Government guidance on shielding has been updated to state that shielding has paused.

This may mean that staff who were shielding will be able to return to work. The full guidance

can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-

protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-

protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Access and Arrangements

You will need to consider your venue and the space that you have available to you. This will

inform the number of children you are able to safely provide care for. It may be necessary to

amend start and end times to safely provide care. If this is necessary, you should ensure that

these are published for parents.

It is important that providers understand and follow current government guidelines on

protective measures to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus. They should also ensure

they are managing risks related to other users of the premises. Specific protective measures

guidance has been released for different types of premises:

• Use of multi-purpose community facilities

• Use of places of worship

• Use of outdoor facilities

The Government has produced a poster which can be displayed at your place of operation

once you have completed a risk assessment. This shows that you have complied with the

guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-covid-19-secure-in-2020-

notice

Further details about making your workplace “COVID-secure” can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Marking Up the Highway Outside Your Provision

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Many parents will now be used to social distancing in queues and will take their own

responsibility to do this for the protection of their own child as well as others in the setting.

You should remind parents of this responsibility when communicating with them.

If you feel additional markings are required, you could explore the following options:

• Use markers on a fence with chalk or ribbons at the social distance of 2m

• Put cones outside at the distance of 2m

• Review their drop off and collection practice in view of the new approach and enforce

staggered drop off and pick up times so only a few parents are there at any one time

• Use mobile telephones and encourage parents to text when they are there, and the

child is presented at the door for collection

If none of these options is viable for your setting then please do contact

childcare@hants.gov.uk so that we can provide the relevant details of permitted markings

and materials for marking up the pavement.

Pick Up/Drop Off

You should consider how children arrive at and leave the setting. Ensure social distancing is

adhered to when parents/carers drop off and pick up children.

Extract from DfE guidance: Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus

outbreak (Updated 22 September)

Childminders and other settings should consider how they can work with parents and carers to agree

how best to manage any necessary journeys, for example pick-ups and drop-offs at schools, to

reduce the need for a provider to travel with groups of children.

If it is necessary for a childminder to pick up or drop off a child at school, walking is preferable. If this

is not practicable, then a private vehicle is preferable to public transport.

You should make sure that parents/carers follow the Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel

guidance for passengers when planning their travel. Parents/carers should be encouraged to

walk or cycle where possible. If car sharing is required, then the following guidance should be

followed.

Extract from DfT Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers (Updated 25 July)

You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or support bubble. If you

need to do this, try to:

• share the transport with the same people each time

• keep to small groups of people at any one time

• open windows for ventilation

• travel side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements

allow

• face away from each other

• consider seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle

• clean your car between journeys using standard cleaning products - make sure you clean door

handles and other areas that people may touch

• ask the driver and passengers to wear a face covering

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Outings

Before taking groups of children out of the setting to a public open space, you should

consider your Risk Assessment to minimise the risk of transmission. You should consider

whether the outing is necessary and how you will minimise the risk of transmission between

the children you are caring for and others whilst out and about. You will need to think about

how this will work in terms of travelling to the public space as well as what facilities are

available too e.g. toilets. Any outings you make will also need to be in line with current

Government guidance.

Extract from DfE guidance: Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus

outbreak (Updated 22 September 2020)

Settings can take groups of children on trips to outdoor public places and do not need to be limited to

6 people, provided:

• it is for the purpose of education or childcare

• they remain within the EYFS staff child ratios

• they conduct a risk assessment in advance

• the risk assessment demonstrates that they can remain socially distant (2 metres) from other

people and groups, wherever possible

• good hygiene is maintained throughout

• thorough handwashing happens before and after the trip

Ofsted Information

It is vital that your registration with Ofsted is up to date, and that the information held by them

about your operations is correct. Please ensure that you have paid all relevant Ofsted fees

for this year.

Ofsted has confirmed, via their rolling update, that the pay deadline for annual invoice fees

has been delayed.

Extract from Ofsted rolling update: Ofsted: coronavirus (COVID-19) rolling update (Updated 17

September 2020)

Invoices for annual fees issued from 3 April 2020 will now have a due date of 30 September 2020, so

that you have freedom to delay your payment during this time. Your annual fee date will not change.

It is also now a requirement to report to Ofsted when there is a confirmed case of coronavirus

in a setting.

The current disapplications of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) will be

lifted on 25 September 2020. There will then be a two-month transitional period for

disapplications around staffing levels and Paediatric First Aid. This is in recognition that some

providers may need time to get back to full staffing levels once the disapplications are lifted.

The full details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-

foundation-stage-framework--2/early-years-foundation-stage-coronavirus-disapplications

The latest Ofsted guidance and information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ofsted-coronavirus-covid-19-rolling-update

Extract from DfE guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ofsted-coronavirus-covid-19-rolling-update

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The DfE has updated their guidance on early years foundation stage (EYFS) disapplications. This

states that if paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate requalification training is prevented for reasons

associated directly with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, or by complying with related

government advice, the validity of current certificates can be extended to 25 November 2020 at the

latest. This applies to certificates expiring on or after 16 March 2020.

The guidance states that providers, if asked to do so, should be able to explain why the first-aider has

not been able to requalify and demonstrate what steps have taken to access the training. Employers

or certificate holders must do their best to arrange requalification training at the earliest opportunity.

You must also ensure all of your business information with Companies House is correct.

Details of how Companies House is operating during the Coronavirus outbreak can be found

here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-guidance-for-companies-house-customers-

employees-and-suppliers

You should ensure that staff have the relevant qualifications to work in an early years setting.

This guidance can help: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder

1.5 Communications with Parents/Carers

It is important that you work closely with your parents at this time. We would recommend that

you share relevant guidance with parents and ensure that they understand it. To minimise

transmission, it is important that parents are following guidance away from the setting too.

This is where any Parent/Carer agreements you have in place will help – see section on

Business Operations. This should outline the service you will provide and the standards you

expect parents to uphold in return, ensuring the safety of you, your staff and the children in

your care.

The guidance for parents can be found here:

• What parents need to know about education provision during the coronavirus outbreak

This guidance can also be found published in various translations here: Parent and

carer information - translations

• Guidance for parents of children attending out of school settings during the

coronavirus outbreak

Where children who usually attend your provision may have relocated as a result of the

Coronavirus response, you should communicate directly with the parents and the temporary

childcare provider to confirm the arrangements for the child to return.

If you have any parents who you have been unable to provide care for as a result of your

reduced capacity, you can refer them to us via our online form so that we can help them to

find alternate provision:

https://childrenshampshirecc.researchfeedback.net/s.asp?k=159353789726

As well as providing parents with clear information about updated policies, you should also

share with them how your provision will be running. This will include how the layout of the

setting may be different but could also include any staffing updates. You may wish to

consider additional posters and signs around your provision.

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Family Information and Services Hub (FISH) / Local Offer

In order to promote your provision to parents, it is important you update your own website,

social media pages, and also your entry on our Family Information and Services Hub (FISH)

if you have one: https://fish.hants.gov.uk/kb5/hampshire/directory/home.page

If you would like more information about getting a record set up on the Family Information

and Services Hub, then please contact us via childcare@hants.gov.uk.

Providers should update their record with any documentation relating to the Coronavirus

outbreak that may be useful to parents who are searching for childcare. This could include

updated admissions policies, risk assessments and COVID-Secure information. Documents

can be uploaded through the “Documents” section when managing your individual listings on

your update portal of the Family Information and Services Hub:

If you require assistance with how to access your record, please contact

childcare@hants.gov.uk

If you have a Local Offer for children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities, you

should consider how this will change in light of social distancing:

https://fish.hants.gov.uk/kb5/hampshire/directory/localoffer.page?familychannel=6

Parent Concerns

We are publishing information for parents to help with two main concerns:

• Health and safety procedures – to help parents understand the procedures settings

should be following and the complaints process they should follow if they have any

concerns

• Childcare fees and charges – highlighting the Government guidance to contact the

CMA if they feel there has been unfair charges.

30 Hours Entitlement

The DfE guidance around eligibility for 30 hours was updated on 27 July. It is recognised that

some parents may have missed renewing their codes by 31 March 2020.

Details of the guidance changes can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-

closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding

Provided parents meet the eligibility criteria, providers and local authorities will need to

confirm that the child taking up the place, did in fact attend before 1 April 2020 to ensure they

are eligible for a 30 hours place in the summer term. If you have a child who was attending

and taking up their 30 hours in the spring and their eligibility/grace period lapsed on 31 March

and you are unable to claim in the adjustment task, please contact us on

chilcare@hants.gov.uk so we can check the details and, where eligible, enable you to make

a claim.

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We are still encouraging parents to continue to apply for, and reconfirm, their 30 hours

entitlement, even if they choose to keep their child away from their childcare setting, to help

them prepare for their transition back into childcare attendance in September.

Safeguarding

Right now, vulnerable children and adults may be particularly isolated, meaning that the

family, community and professional networks they usually rely on may be unavailable or hard

to access. At the same time, living under the current arrangements may increase the

pressures that can contribute to abuse and neglect, or allow it to go unseen. Neighbours,

volunteers and professionals can play a vital role in keeping adults and children safe.

The Home Office, in collaboration with a number of other government departments, has

produced information and guidance for those who are operating in communities and may not

be trained to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect. The guidance covers signs to spot and

what to do if there is a concern:

https://homeoffice.brandworkz.com/BMS/albums/?album=2092&lightboxAccessID=9AD9C14

2-A301-458E-8BE489B20777137A

1.6 Training and Resources

We have been developing sections on our Moodle site to give advice and support to all

providers. To access these, please follow the steps below:

• Link to site -https://sfyctraining.hants.gov.uk/

• Choose the relevant tile from the front page

• Self-enrolment option will appear

• Press continue

• Enter your normal password to access the section

o username: moodle.ofstednumber (ensure all lower case)

o password: M00dle!! (NB. zeros not the letter o)

This email address and password will need to be shared within your setting, so all your staff

have access to the site.

If you have any problems accessing the site please email SFYCMoodle@hants.gov.uk

Some of the key areas we have been providing additional details regarding are:

Transition

We have developed a new Transition section on our Moodle site. This includes many short

videos, top tip leaflets, links to resources and our updated “Hampshire Expects” transition

document. Please click on the ‘Transition’ tile to access these.

Webinars

Over the Summer term, we held a number of webinars for our providers. These have been

recorded and the resources can be accessed on the Moodle under the “Business and

Welfare Support” tile. These cover:

• “How to deal with a suspected or confirmed case of Coronavirus” - Webinar and

associated resources found under the “Public Health Information/guidance section

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• “Being ready for re-opening on the 1 June 2020” - In the lead up to 1 June 2020 we

ran webinars for providers to attend to provide further support and advice regarding

additional opening of your settings. Some of these sessions were co-delivered with

childcare facilities who have been operating during the “lock down” period. Resources

from settings, such as risk assessments, along with the slides for the webinar, are

available on the Moodle

• “Out of School Guidance for Reopening” – In July, we ran webinars for our Out of

School Childcare market. The recordings and slides are now available on the Moodle.

• Provider Briefings - SfYC Provider briefings take place across the eight local areas on

a termly basis. They include information and updates from the DfE, Ofsted, local data,

learning & development and safeguarding. The presentations are available as a

webinar recording on the Moodle.

Home-Learning Materials

There is an expectation that you will be in regular contact with those parents who are not

attending. This will enable you to continue the weekly vulnerable children return if you are

required to do so. You should also be continuing to provide virtual support and learning

where you are able to do so.

The “Home Learning” tile on the Moodle has a wealth of resources available to you.

The Government has also released advice for parents of early years’ children to help with

children learning at home which can be shared with your parents:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-children-aged-2-to-4-to-learn-at-home-during-coronavirus-

covid-19

There is also guidance about keeping children safe online. This should be shared with

parents where appropriate: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-

19-keeping-children-safe-online

Summer Safety

Coping with heat and Coronavirus

During the Coronavirus outbreak, it is especially important that you know what actions to take

to keep yourself and others safe when temperatures are high. The heat can affect anyone,

but for some there is greater risk of serious harm. Many people who are at higher risk of ill

health due to heat are also at higher risk of severe illness from Coronavirus. People

recovering from Coronavirus may also be at increased risk. As people are likely to be at

home more, it is important to keep homes as cool as possible. It is important that even during

hot weather that anyone with symptoms of Coronavirus self-isolates and that when using

outdoor space people continue to maintain social distancing and hand hygiene.

Specific resources for heat risk and Coronavirus have been developed and are available in

the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heatwave-plan-for-england

Key documentation includes:

• Beat the Heat: Coping with heat and Coronavirus (poster)

• Beat the Heat: Coping with heat and Coronavirus (leaflet)

• Beat the Heat: Keeping residents safe and well during Coronavirus (poster and checklist)

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• Heat-health risks and Coronavirus: Actions to prevent harm (slide set)

Further information regarding keeping safe during hot weather has been published in the

June provider bulletin which can be accessed here.

Water & Garden Safety

When providing care using outside spaces, please do take some time to remind yourself of

the various safety implications of ponds, paddling pools, and domestic swimming pools:

https://www.capt.org.uk/garden-safety. This also outlines other hazards that could arise in

outside spaces.

2. Guidance for Settings from September 2020

From 1 September, Government expects that schools, nurseries and colleges will open for all

children and young people on a full-time basis.

Specific guidance about what parents and carers need to know about educational provision

in the autumn term can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-

parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-

the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-

providers-schools-and-colleges-in-the-autumn-term

It should be noted that parents have a right to request full time education from the second full

week of term (10 September 2020). Guidance for starting school in Hampshire can be found

by clicking the link.

2.1 Admissions and Group Sizes

Early years settings are no longer required to arrange children and staff in small, consistent

groups so can return to normal group sizes. Parents are being informed that attendance with

nurseries, childminders and other early years providers remains optional, but they are being

strongly encouraged to take up places for their children.

For Out of School providers, new guidance has been released regarding group sizes

during the autumn term 2020.

Extract from DfE guidance: Protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out of

school settings (Updated 20 August)

When state schools in your local area reopen for all pupils in autumn term 2020, we are advising

providers to keep children in small groups of no more than 15 children with the same children each

time wherever possible (do not mix groups unless absolutely necessary) and at least one staff

member, depending on the type of provision or size of the group.

Multiple groups of 15 plus staff can use the same shared space, if that is necessary, with distancing

between the groups. Where this is the case the other protective measures within this guidance will be

even more important to minimise the risk of infection and transmission of the virus.

Where it is possible to do so, providers should also try to work with parents, the schools or early years

settings which children attend to ensure, as far as possible, children can be kept in a group with other

children from the same bubble they are in during the school day. This will minimise the amount of

mixing between different groups of children outside of school, and therefore the risk of infection. The

government will keep group sizes under review.

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Where it is not possible to group children in the same bubbles as they are in during the school day,

you should seek to keep children in consistent groups, as far as possible, and frequently review these

groups to minimise the amount of ‘mixing’ (that is, the number of different people each child comes

into contact with). For example, when new children register for your provision, you may wish to firstly

determine whether they attend the same school or early years setting as other children in your setting

and group them together if appropriate. To help you review your groups, you should also keep up-to-

date records of the children attending your setting for at least 21 days, including the schools or early

years setting that they attend and the specific groups and members of staff they have been assigned

to in your setting.

2.2 Shared Care

The guidance for schools states that they should resume their breakfast and after school

provision from the start of the autumn term. Providers, parents and schools should ensure

that appropriate protective measures are in place at all settings the child attends.

The information for parents and carers provides the following guidance regarding shared

care. Extract from DfE guidance: What parents and carers need to know about early years

providers in the autumn term (Updated 1 September)

Out-of-school settings, such as holiday or after-school clubs, can open to children and young people

of all ages. It remains important that they put protective measures in place to help reduce the risk of

transmission.

To minimise risks, consider:

• sending your child to the same setting consistently

• limiting the number of different settings you access

Ask the organisation that runs the activity what they are doing differently to reduce any risks.

This is mirrored in the guidance for providers

Extract from DfE guidance: Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus

(COVID-19) outbreak (Updated 22 September)

Parents and carers should be encouraged to limit the number of settings their child attends, ideally

ensuring their child only attends the same setting consistently. This should also be the same for staff.

There may be situations where a child needs to attend more than one setting, for example, children

attending a childminder before their nursery opens so that their parent or carer may go to work.

Settings, parents and carers should work through the ‘systems of controls’ collaboratively, to address

any risks identified and allowing them to jointly deliver appropriate care for the child. This section of

the guidance contains more information about the ‘system of controls’ for settings.

Extract from DfE guidance: Protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out of

school settings (Updated 20 August)

Providers are encouraged to consider measures they can put in place to reduce the extent to which

children are mixing with others, such as by ensuring that children who attend your setting are

assigned to a particular class or group when they return and stay in those consistent groups for future

sessions, as far as it is possible. Children and young people from different schools can attend the

same out-of-school setting, but providers, where possible, are encouraged to work with the schools

that they attend to ensure they are, as far as possible, kept in the same consistent groups or bubbles

that they are in throughout the school day.

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You should also discourage attendance from children who live outside the local area. Ideally, children

who attend your setting should live within walking or cycling distance.

A conversation should be held with the parent in the first instance, to determine the options

available to minimise or eliminate the need for the child to attend more than one setting.

Where shared care is unavoidable, each setting will need to understand each other’s risk

assessments. This will include showing each other what they are doing to minimise the risk of

transmission.

Walking Bus

Many providers have asked if it will be possible to operate a walking bus in the autumn term,

whereby providers walk and gather children from different schools on the way to the school

where the out of school provision is based.

PHE has confirmed that the walking bus approach should be possible, but planning should

take account of the size of group that needs to transfer between schools and the ability for

children in the same school group or after school club to walk together, maintaining at least

2m distance from children in other groups.

As an ‘outside activity’ overall risk would be low with the walking bus, however, minimising

mixing between groups and maintaining social distancing where possible would reduce this

further. If a child or staff member developed symptoms and walked in close contact with

others not already identified as school/afterschool club contacts, those children/staff

members would also be advised to isolate for 14 days.

3. Additional Links & Information

Guidance Link

General Government Coronavirus Guidance Documents

Guidance Collection https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings

The Government’s Rebuild Strategy Document

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884171/FINAL_6.6637_CO_HMG_C19_Recovery_FINAL_110520_v2_WEB__1_.pdf

Technical Specifications for PPE

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-specifications-for-personal-protective-equipment-ppe

Riddor Reporting: Coronavirus

https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/riddor-reporting-coronavirus.htm

Test and Trace: Workplace Guidance

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-workplace-guidance

Guidance regarding contacts of those with possible or confirmed infection

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person

Coronavirus: Getting Tested https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

Guidance for contacts of people with possible or confirmed Coronavirus if

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person/guidance-for-contacts-of-

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you do not live with the person

people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person

Guidance for staying at home if your household has possible symptoms

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Guidance for shielding vulnerable groups from Coronavirus

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Guidance for employers with apprentices

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response

Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-send-risk-assessment-guidance

When to wear face coverings and how to make your own

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Business Support, Information & Advice

Competition and Market Authorities open letter to Early Years Sector

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904194/Open_letter_to_Nursery_and_Early_Years__settings.pdf

Government advice for employees

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees

Government Information for Charities

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission

Business Hampshire Guide https://businesshampshire.co.uk/support/covid-19-support/

Information for Voluntary and Community groups

www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/information/coronavirus

ACAS Coronavirus Pages https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus

Pacey – Reopening of Settings Advice and Guidance

https://www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/spotlight-on/coronavirus/reopening-settings-coronavirus/practitioner-experiences/

Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus outbreak

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response

Incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice

https://help.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/360015391139-Incentive-payments-for-hiring-a-new-apprentice