CORONAVIRUS: Alliance criticises government confusion over PPE supply to childcare providers

The Early Years Alliance has  today  criticised the government  following  confusion  over  guidance issued regarding  access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for childcare providers.   

Guidance on ‘implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings’ issued by the Department for Education (DfE) on 12 May, states that education, childcare and children’s social care settings and providers should use their local supply chains to obtain PPE, but that: “Where this is not possible, and there is unmet urgent need for PPE in order to operate safely, they may approach their nearest local resilience forum.”  

However, guidance issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to local resilience forums (multi-agency groups made up of representatives from local public services, who have been supplied with PPE by government), does not include childcare providers on the list of eligible organisations that can receive PPE via the  forums, (the full list is available in the editor’s notes). 

While DfE guidance states that PPE is not routinely required at childcare settings beyond what is normally worn for intimate care, it does advise that PPE should be worn by early years staff if a child starts to display symptoms of coronavirus. 

Confusion over the government guidance emerged after  childcare providers  across England  reported that  local resilience forums  had informed them  that they could not supply them with PPE, despite the DfE guidance. 

The Alliance  contacted all the local resilience forums in England and were told by several  that  the  Department for Education guidance was an error and that they were required to follow the guidance from the  MHCLG.   
 

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

“Those childcare providers planning on reopening on 1 June are working incredibly hard to ensure that they are able to do so as safely  as possible.  

 “The DfE’s own guidance states that if a child displays symptoms of coronavirus, early years practitioners will need to wear  PPE, and yet the government has failed to provide a suitable  system to ensure that providers are able to access the PPE they need  to deliver care safely.  

“It is simply  unacceptable  to  leave  childcare providers facing the prospect of having to reopen their doors without the necessary protective equipment. The government must act urgently to ensure that  it  delivers  an  appropriate system which can meet the demand for PPE within the sector.” 

 

Editor notes

  • The MHCLG guidance, sent to the Alliance by a local resilience forum, states: 

PPE is for organisations outside of the NHS supply chain who have the highest need clinically, including:    

  • Adult social care (care homes, personal assistants, homecare)    

  • Children’s home   

  • General Practitioners (GPs)    

  • Secure Children’s home    

  • Residential Special School    

  • Court officers    

  • Funeral services    

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  • Local Authority (Children's Social Care)    

  • Local Authority (Adult Social Care)    

  • Mental health community services/Adult social workers    

  • Hospices and Palliative Care    

  • Primary care (only if they cannot access NHS supply routes)    

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  • Emergency dentists     

  • The Department for Education guidance, implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings, states that PPE is needed if “a child, young person or other learner becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus while in their setting and needs direct personal care until they can return home.” 

It states: “A fluid-resistant surgical face mask should be worn by the supervising adult if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. If contact with the child or young person is necessary, then disposable gloves, a disposable apron and a fluid-resistant surgical face mask should be worn by the supervising adult. If a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes, for example from coughing, spitting, or vomiting, then eye protection should also be worn.” 

  • The Early Years Alliance is the largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England. A registered educational charity, it also provides high-quality affordable childcare and education to support children and families in areas of deprivation throughout the country.
  • The Alliance represents 14,000 members and supports them to deliver care and learning to more than 800,000 families every year. We deliver family learning projects, offer information and advice, produce specialist publications, run acclaimed training programmes and campaign to influence early years policy and practice.
  • The Alliance website is