Alliance responds to extension of testing to households and bubbles of nursery children

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

"The extension of testing to the households and bubbles of children attending nurseries or pre-schools is another welcome step towards keeping early years settings open, and as safe as can be for staff, children and their respective households.

"Since asking early years providers to remain open to all families during the second and third waves of this virus, government has repeatedly stressed the vital importance of keeping childcare settings open. For childminders, this means welcoming children from other families into their own homes.

"Childminders provide the same vital care and early education to young children as nurseries, pre-schools and reception settings. With every household and childcare bubble of every child attending a school, nursery or pre-school now included in the asymptomatic home testing rollout, the government must urgently confirm not just that childminders will be provided with home test kits, but also exactly when and how they will be able to access them."