Early Years DfE COVID-19 Return 121

Overview

From Monday 6 April, local authorities have been asked to provide information on the status of the early years and childcare settings in their area. This includes the number of providers currently open and the number of children attending.

Now that early years settings are broadening their offer to more children, we continue to require a breakdown of critical workers and vulnerable children who are currently attending.

Vulnerability will be broken down into

• Children with a social worker – children who are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children and young people who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child.
• Children with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP)
• Children identified by the provider as vulnerable for another reason but who do not have a social worker or an EHCP

We will also be asking you If you are planning to be open next week, whether you are a childminder, a maintained early years provider or any other group based provider. Please make sure you have this information available in order to complete the survey.

The survey will be open from Monday each week and will close at midnight on Wednesday, giving you longer to record the information on which children are attending your setting during that week. Reminders will be sent out via the broadcast email, including the link you will need to use.

We recognise that you will already be incredibly busy, and under significant pressure at this time, so thank you in advance for your co-operation with this process and for the information you are able to provide.