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Government confirms furlough flexibility

By Rachel Lawlerchildren building blocks

HMRC has confirmed that employees can be furloughed more than once as part of its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The updated guidance states: 鈥測our employer can place you on furlough more than once鈥.

The confirmation comes after the Alliance campaigned for greater flexibility in the scheme as many settings remain partially open to offer care to the children of key workers and vulnerable families.

With many early years staff currently sick or in self-isolation, the job retention scheme had proved hard to implement while supporting these families

Hundreds of letters were sent to MPs through the Alliance campaign.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said: 鈥"We welcome the news that childcare providers, alongside other businesses, are able to access the job retention scheme flexibly.

"For childcare providers remaining partially open, such flexibility - for example, the ability to rotate staff who are furloughed in instances of staff sickness or self-isolation - is absolutely vital to being able to continue operating and providing places for key worker families and vulnerable children during this difficult period."

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