аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±

The government has today confirmed that all childminders will now be able to access asymptomatic twice-weekly testing, including home lateral flow test kits.

The  has been updated, with anyone who works in an occupation related to a childcare provider, school, nursery or college, and their household, childcare and support bubbles now able to access testing by either:

• Attending a test site to get tested where they will be able to see how to take the test or pick up tests to do at home.
• Attending a collection site to collect tests to do at home.
• Ordering test kits online via 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, Early Years Alliance chief executive, said:

"We welcome the news that childminders will finally be able to access the home tests that they need to help keep themselves, their households and the children in their care as safe as possible.

"Given that many childminders work long hours, often making it difficult for them to access community test centres during the week, it's clear that this step should have been taken weeks ago. The fact that childminders have only been given access to these vital tests after they have been made freely available to a significant proportion of the households in England is simply unacceptable.

"Childminders offer the same quality care and education as other early years professionals, and have continued to do so, within their own homes, despite the risks associated with Covid-19. Going forward, the government must ensure the whole of the early years sector is treated equally and that all providers, whether group setting or home-based, are given the support they need to operate as safely and securely as possible."