Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of making financial support available to child minders where they are unable to provide childminding services as a result of someone in their household testing positive for covid-19.
The department has recently reviewed and updated guidance for childminders with the UK Health Security Agency. From Thursday 17 March 2022, childminders can continue to childmind in their homes if someone who lives with them has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms.
Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission:
Additional information on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 can be found in guidance published by the Cabinet Office, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae?utm_source=17%20March%202022%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19.
Childminders can also consider using alternative places to operate such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.