Alliance slams government decision to supply coronavirus testing kits to maintained nurseries but not private and voluntary childcare providers 

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

"It was bad enough when it seemed as though schools and colleges had been given home testing kits and the early years sector had been left out - but it is an absolute scandal that such kits have in fact been made available to maintained nurseries, with only private and voluntary early years providers left to go it alone.

"Staff working in PVI nurseries, pre-schools and childminding settings are putting themselves at risk day in and day out providing care and early education for young children in the middle of a global pandemic. How on earth can the government justify providing such critical support to one part of the sector but not another? There is simply no excuse.

"Government must now, without delay, address this appalling inconsistency and ensure that all early years providers - PVI or maintained - have the resources they need to ensure they are able to continue operating, and operating safely, throughout this pandemic."