At Childcare.co.uk we are doing everything we can to help and support parents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Latest updates

• Self-Isolation and Childcare from 16th August including 11-page DfE Q&A

Latest guidance from the Department for Education, Ofsted and Government

• Education, universities and childcare 

• Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread 

• Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak 

• What parents and carers need to know about schools, colleges and other education settings during the coronavirus outbreak 

• Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) local restrictions in education and childcare settings 

• Working safely in homes during Coronavirus

• Ofsted Coronavirus rolling update

Can childminders and nurseries open?

In England childminders and nurseries can remain open for all EYFS children (birth to 5 years old).

Childminders may also provide care for older children of keyworkers/critical workers or vulnerable children. For example, for wraparound care (before and after school).

In Scotland and Wales childminders remain open for all children.

What are the rules in Scotland?

Scotland Latest: .gov.scot - Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do

What are the rules in Wales and Northern Ireland?

Wales: .gov.wales - Education and childcare: coronavirus

Northern Ireland: nidirect.gov.uk - Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice about childcare

Can I still use a nanny or babysitter?

Yes. The government have stated nannies will still be able to continue to provide services in the home (see screenshot above).

They also say:

There are still circumstances in which you are allowed to meet others from outside your household or support bubble in larger groups, but this should not be for socialising.

The main reasons are for work, voluntary or charitable services, and formal education or training (as opposed to extracurricular classes). This includes where you are fulfilling legal obligations. It can also include work in other people’s homes where necessary - for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople.

Any nanny who does not feel safe or comfortable continuing to work should speak to their employer. No nanny should be forced to continue to work if they do not feel safe to do so.

We recently introduced the idea of a Virtual Nanny which allows a nanny to work from the nanny's own home if the child's parents are working from home. Having a Virtual Nanny is something that nannies and their employers may like to consider.and the idea is already providing very popular.

Can a childminder or nursery still charge parents if they are closed?

It will depend upon the contract with your childcare setting but generally you wouldn't be able to be charged fees if the setting was unable to provide childcare. Some parents are willing to pay full or reduced fees for a period of time in order for a childminder or nursery to hold their places but this would be something you would have to negotiate with the childcare setting. On 30th April 2020, the Competitions and Markets Authority announced that it would be investigating a number of sectors in relation to contracts with their customers.  Nurseries and childcare providers were specifically mentioned as one of the sectors being investigated due to the high number of complaints being received.

My nanny is ill - do I still have to pay?

Nannies are generally employed on a PAYE basis and are entitled to the usual benefits of being employed including sickness pay.   Your contract of employment with your nanny will state how much you should pay them in the event that they are sick but it should be at least the statutory minium (SSP).  The government have stated that employees are entitled to SSP from day one of being ill.  

I'm a parent whose family is self-isolating - can my nanny still work in my home?

If you or a member of your family is self-isolating and your nanny has been in recent contact with you then it is recommended that they self-isolate too.  In these instances they may choose to self-isolate with you in your own home but they may alternatively choose to self-isolate in their own home. You would still generally be obligated to pay your nanny in full because they are unable to work due to your family's self-isolation although you may prefer to furlough your nanny using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Can a nanny be furloughed?

The government expressly stated that nannies can be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The government have stated that Individuals can furlough employees such as nannies provided they pay them through PAYE and they were on their payroll on, or before, 28 February 2020. The furlough scheme has recently been extended until 31st March 2021.

My child's school is closed, I want to use a private tutor. Is this allowed?

We are seeing increasing number of parents searching for private tutors due to worries about their childrens' education whilst they are off school. Many private tutors are now offering themselves as Virtual Tutors, providing remote tutoring via video calling platforms such as Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and WhatsApp. This is a safe and fun way for your children to get expert help with their studies. We have over 5000 tutors on our platform.

What is a key worker/critical worker?

The list is quite wide and includes NHS staff, social care workers, school & nursery staff, police officers, court staff, religious staff, journalists, some government staff, delivery workers, supermarket staff, army and MoD, firefighters, prison & probation staff, transport workers, infrastrucure workers such as gas & electricity and some financial services staff.

How do I check childcare providers are qualified and suitable?

We have a detailed online guide for parents about checking childcare providers and more information in our safety centre.

Stay Updated

We will post news and updates for parents about Covid-19 on this page of our website. Please check by regularly for the latest news.