Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether childminders with underlying health conditions will continue to receive Government financial support while shielding during the covid-19 outbreak.

Our guidance for early years providers details the package of support the government has put in place for workers and businesses which will benefit childcare settings, including:

• Confirmation that the government will continue to pay local authorities for free early years entitlement places for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds;
• The Self-employment Income Support Scheme for those who are self-employed or members of a partnership and have lost income due to COVID-19. The scheme allows individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 months. HMRC will contact individuals who are eligible and invite them to apply online; and
• For the self-employed (including childminders), the minimum income floor will also be temporarily relaxed, meaning Universal Credit can be accessed at a rate to match statutory sick pay.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding

Throughout the coronavirus outbreak, childminders have been asked to continue caring for vulnerable children and children of critical workers. To align with the government’s position on nannies, we have confirmed that paid childcare can be provided to the children of one household from Wednesday 13 May 2020. This includes childminders, who may choose to look after the children of one household if they are not already looking after vulnerable children or those of critical workers. From 1 June 2020, childminders can look after children of all ages, in line with their current Ofsted registration, and within usual limits on the number of children they can care for.