HELLO TO ALL OUR MEMBERS
BREAKING NEWS
Scottish Government Announcement on Easing of Lockdown and What this Means for Childcare Providers - Friday 29th May
Just as we were about to publish, we received communication from the Scottish Government that information was being sent directly to all registered childcare providers via the Care Inspectorate. This communication provides further information about what the easing of lockdown and entering Phase 1 means for childcare providers. Also available to read from our website:
https://soscn.org/downloads/news/Note-for-all-providers-Phase-1.pdf
GENERAL UPDATE
Once again, we hope that you are all well, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally- this is a stressful time for all of us, so we need to remember to look after own wellbeing as well as those around us.
At the moment, as we move out of lockdown and into Phase 1 of the Route-Map through and beyond the COVID crisis- we shall see a general easing of restrictions in our lives, for which we are grateful. It's been a hard couple of months and although things may be easing there are still many obstacles to overcome.
With an easing of restrictions people will be returning to work and of course, there will be an increased need for childcare, so what does this mean for out of school care? In this update we shall provide you with all the information that we currently have.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): staying at home and away from others (physical distancing)
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/
SOSCN UPDATES
Engagement with Maree Todd, Minister for Children and Young People
Last week we received a letter from Ms Todd and this week we had a virtual meeting with her. Ms Todd wanted to re-iterate that the out of school care sector is very important not just for economic recovery but to support the health and wellbeing of children. In the letter she said:
“We don't have all the answers at this time, and we want to work with you in partnership to identify the questions and develop solutions. In doing so we will continue to engage with you to make sure that we are supporting the sector as best we can.
I'd like to thank you, your teams, your members and the whole childcare sector. We are in unprecedented times and the Scottish Government is thankful for everything you are doing to continue to support our efforts to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. The steps we have taken in Scotland to contain the virus and protect lives are difficult and have changed life as we know it. We do not underestimate the significant impact that those restrictions have placed on everyone, not least the children and young people of Scotland. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and care shown by this sector, and the resilience shown by children, young people and their families.
...
as I have noted above, at this time we don't have all the answers but with your help we can ensure that the supporting guidance which will underpin this strategic framework is co-produced taking account of the vast expertise within the ELC and childcare sectors in Scotland.
I would like to reiterate my thanks to you, your teams and your members for all the fantastic work you have done and I know you will continue to do to provide love, care, safety and support to the children and families in Scotland.”
SOSCN Quick Survey on running costs in out of school care
This is a short and easy 3- minute survey to work out the costs of providing out of school care, about normal costs in term time, and, if any, holiday cover costs. There are specific questions for those open for critical childcare now. Please share and complete even if closed for now. Closing date 12th June.
https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/VoeVrFmc
How are you doing? Stories from the frontline Project
We are still looking for stories from services involved in currently delivering critical childcare. A HUGE thank you to those of you who have already contributed- we shall be publishing these soon but we could always do with more! Further information:
https://soscn.org/news/news_75
RE-OPENING OF OUT OF SCHOOL CARE
We are getting many questions about when this will happen and how this will look. In short, we don't know, apart from that general childcare will be able to open in Phase 3 of the route-map when schools return.
All the information we have is what we are publicising and sharing through social media, our website and membership updates. We understand that this is frustrating because there are no exact answers. Changes are dependent on successful suppression of the virus- opening up could be quicker than anticipated or it could be slower, or the science may suggest stepping back phases. Of course, the hope and aims are that as a society we can continue to move forward and out of the current crisis.
Currently the route map says that in Phase 1 childminders and outdoor-registered childcare provision can re-open (with limitations), in phase 2 there will be an expansion of critical childcare (which OSC can potentially play a role in) and in phase 3, childcare more generally will be able to open along with schools. [Please note that we have been told that the outdoor services are those that are registered as such, of which there are less than 25 in Scotland and include only 1 OSC.]
What we do know is that the Scottish Government and agencies, such as the Care Inspectorate, are working hard to develop national guidance for schools and childcare, and we are participating in these conversations. We are able to feed in your concerns and the issues that you would like addressed. As and when national guidance and strategies are published, we shall share this with you. We anticipate that detailed guidance will be available mid-June.
However, once national guidance and strategies are developed- local authorities will be responsible for implementing some aspects of them, especially the expansion of critical childcare, therefore each local authority will put their own plan and strategies in place. Potentially there will also be localised area plans within local authorities.
In a letter sent to Directors of Education from Scottish Government we know that Local Phasing Delivery plans should make consideration of “Provision of critical childcare for key workers (incl wraparound and out of school care)” and that “Critical childcare will need to continue throughout May, June and the summer break to ensure ongoing provision for key worker and vulnerable children. As recovery progresses, the use of dedicated childcare hubs for all provision may reduce, where possible reopening more settings so that children can access ELC and childcare in their usual environment.”
With respect to Early Learning and Childcare, the letter said, “Daycare of children services, including nurseries, playgroups, childminding services and out of school care services, will be advised when it is safe to prepare for reopening in accordance with the approach laid out Scotland's route map through and out of the crisis, also published today. As per the steps taken at the time of closing provision, the Scottish Government will communicate this formally to all local authorities and sector representative bodies, and providers will be informed directly by the Care Inspectorate.” (Letter sent to local authority Chief Executives and Directors of Education from John Swinney on 21st May 2020.)
Whilst SOSCN can engage with national government and agencies, individual services and local forums/networks will need to engage with the local authority and local Care Inspectorate officers to make them aware of your needs/plans/hopes and how you can fit into overall plans.
Re-opening is dependent on many different factors which will vary between individual services - to re-open you will need to consider the needs and wellbeing of staff and children, premises constraints, social-distancing, enhanced infection prevention and control measures, amongst others. Individual services will need to develop their own re-opening plans which will include various potential routes- so much is currently based upon 'what if'. If services are willing to share their own re-opening plans, this would be useful.
NATIONAL INFORMATION UPDATE
Statement from John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
On 26th May John Swinney, Deputy First Minister gave a statement about the re-opening of schools and childcare settings. About early and childcare settings he said:
“In early learning and childcare settings, and for the youngest primary school children, it would not be desirable for children's wellbeing were we to implement strict physical distancing between young children or between a child and a key worker.
Alternative age-appropriate public health measures, building on expertise that has been developed across Scotland in delivering critical childcare, will be put in place. Childminding services and outdoor nurseries will be able to reopen when we move into the first phase of our managed relaxation of lockdown restrictions. We are working with the childcare sector, the Care Inspectorate and public health advisers to prepare guidance in advance of their reopening. Other types of childcare provision will reopen over the summer. It might be that fewer children can be accommodated in each setting, so capacity will be prioritised.
The timetable for reopening services will take account of the lead-in time that is required to bring staff off furlough. The framework for ELC provision will safeguard the financial sustainability of services across all sectors. To ensure on-going provision for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, critical childcare will continue throughout June and the summer break. As recovery progresses, use of childcare hubs might reduce as more children return to their familiar settings. To prepare for August, teachers and other school staff should return to schools in June, when it is decided that it is safe to do so. Health and safety guidance, including risk assessments, must be in place prior to their return.
I am mindful of the impact of lockdown on many of our most vulnerable children. Local authorities have been asked to increase the numbers of children attending critical childcare provision, and there will also be a focus on supporting children at key transition points, which could include some in-school experience in late June.”
Read the full statement (under Covid-19 [Education]):
http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12658
Scottish Government Publication: Coronavirus (COVID-19): schools, early learning and childcare settings- scientific evidence
Summary of scientific evidence relating to re-opening schools and early learning and childcare settings
Care Inspectorate Statement on next steps for Childcare Services
The Care Inspectorate have published a short update for Early Learning and Childcare services including childminders and out of school care on next steps and the route map out of lockdown.
https://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php/coronavirus-professionals
ISSUES RAISED BY THE SECTOR
As mentioned services and networks have raised issues and concerns with us which we have been feeding into national groups and government, they include:
- General lack of clarity/uncertainty about how/if/when OSC will be able to re-open
- Will holiday provision be possible as part of critical childcare expansion?
- Enhanced infection prevention and control procedures
- Use of PPE or not
- Social-distancing within premises, outdoors and pick-up
- Access to and use of school/shared premises
- Supporting children with ASN
- Ensuring wellbeing, and health and safety of staff and children
- Various financial concerns (separately outlined below)
FINANCIAL CONCERNS FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDCARE DURING CURRENT CRISIS
Concerns
- Services' money is running out but the costs continue and there is no sense of when they can re-open - general stress and anxiety. People's livelihoods are at stake.
- Re higher per place costs- anticipated that there will need to be higher ratios of staff to children, need for additional training, and increased costs to ensure enhanced infection and prevention control (PPE if required, cleaning of premises, different and additional play resources required etc)- how will the increased costs be covered? Most services believe that parents will not be able to afford it, or should have to pay for the increase in costs.
- What happens when the furlough scheme ends?
- What financial support will be available to services once their Third Sector Resilience Fund (TSRF) grant has finished (if they received it in the first place)?
- Will parents who have received government childcare support through tax credits etc be expected to repay these whilst they have not accessed childcare? (As these are direct payments to parents, potentially these will already have been spent during the current crisis, therefore if they are clawed back then this could put parents into future greater financial difficulty.)
More specific issues
- Some services were rejected from the Third Sector Resilience Fund (TSRF) because they had more than the 12 weeks' financial reserves. These reserves have now gone down, can they re-apply and for how long will the TSRF be open?
- Access to schools during summer and beyond in order to be able to open and provide expanded critical childcare provision- need to be able to open as soon as possible (subject to necessary health measures) in order to generate some income.
- Some services are still being expected to pay rent by landlords (including churches).
- Some private businesses, especially with limited company structures are not eligible for much additional support other than business loans. Services in this position are feeling very vulnerable and that this situation is unjust considering the support that others are receiving, yet as a childcare service they are integral to economic recovery and children's wellbeing. They are also reluctant to take on business loans as the future is so uncertain.
- Anecdotal evidence suggests that non-local authority services providing critical childcare in some local authorities are not being supported by the LAs to deliver it and parents are having to pay for it. What's known about delivery of critical childcare across Scotland, and is the expectation that it should be all-day provision (not just education hours) and free to parents?
We are representing all these concerns and more- various working groups are looking at all of these issues nationally.
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SURVEY
Scottish Government Education Workforce Feedback
The CERG Workforce Support Workstream consists of partners across the Scottish education sector who are considering the professional learning and wellbeing support currently being provided for school leaders, teaching staff, support staff and early years practitioners. They are keen to draw on the opinions of the sector and they would appreciate if you could take 5 minutes to complete the short survey. The responses are anonymous and no personal information is being asked.
Please note that although it appears to be education focussed the group do also want to hear from out of school care practitioners- if you do undertake the survey, please select 'other' and put 'Out of school care professional'.