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By Rachel Lawler

The number of early years providers reporting positive cases of Covid-19 at their setting hit a new high in the week before Christmas 2021.

A total of 3,697 settings reporting having at least one positive case at their nursery, pre-school or childminding setting in the week commencing 20 December 2021.

This is higher than the previous peaks in January (2,357, 8 January) and November (2,707, 22 November) 2021.

Support for sector
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Alliance, said: "It’s staggering that at a time when so many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are being affected by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the government has yet to announce any financial or practical support for our vital sector.

"Reports of positive Covid-19 cases in early years settings were already skyrocketing before the Christmas break, but here we are, a week into January, with daily testing for some sectors, a staffing fund and the call for retirees to return to the profession for schools, but not a word about support for early years.

"Given that there is no requirement for under-fives to isolate or take daily lateral flow tests if they have been in close contact with a positive Covid case, many in the early years are understandably deeply concerned about their ability to protect themselves, their colleagues and their loved ones from the virus, especially given that those who ask children to stay home in that instance could face lost fees and funding as a result.

"There has been much discussion on the need to safeguard schools from this latest Covid-19 wave, but ignoring the needs of the early years sector will cause huge disruption for parents, employers and, of course, young children as well. With the end of this crisis still seemingly a long way off, the government must immediately set out what it plans to do to ensure that early years providers are able to remain both safe and financially sustainable through this outbreak and beyond."

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