Keep the Early Years Lockdown! #ChildcareJuneTooSoon
The Prime Minister
We, the undersigned, oppose any re-opening of childcare settings before it is safe.
The guidelines that have been issued to nurseries and childminders are completely inadequate to deal with infection control, and in many cases the measures suggested are unworkable.
For example, the government advises removing all sort furnishings, soft toys and hard-to-clean resources which would include sand and play-dough. Most settings do not have enough space or staff to keep key groups of 3 or 4 children separate from one another.
Babies and young children need close physical contact, from nose-blowing to nappy-changing and cuddles. The guidelines acknowledge this reality, yet Early Years staff are directed to avoid PPE such as masks except in exceptional circumstances. Medics and carers doing similar jobs are not expected to work without adequate protection.
Early Years practitioners generally agree that masks and social distancing are likely to cause fear and upset for young children. If the disease is so wide-spread that these are required then the best place for most little ones is at home.
The virus is currently out of control, with hundreds of deaths and thousands of new cases every day. This is unlikely to change significantly by 1st June.
Before Early Years settings widely re-open, there must be convincing evidence that the virus is under control. We need comprehensive testing and contact tracing, with settings closed as soon as Covid-19 is discovered. The British Medical Association stated on 15th May that scientists do not know enough about the effects and spread of this virus among children (and from children to others in their communities) to support their safe return to school on June 1st.
Let’s not compromise quality of care and education in our schools, or for our youngest children. Safety must come first.
Sponsored by
Additional Sponsors
To:
The Prime Minister
From:
[Your Name]
We call on the government to:
* Keep the Early Years lockdown
* Continue the furlough scheme for parents of young children so they are not pushed into using unsafe or inappropriate childcare.
* Support nurseries, childminders and Early Years professionals financially so that they do not have to choose between unsafe reopening and never opening again at all.
* Respect parental choice - no penalties or loss of income for families who keep their children home from 1st June.
* Issue clear guidance on best practice for reopening Early Years settings. This should be led by Public Health experts and actively enforced by local authorities - but only once the virus is under control!