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Coronavirus: Children and staff will no longer need to keep to small 'bubbles' in early years settings

Coronavirus Policy & Politics Provision Management
Children and staff in nurseries and pre-schools will no longer have to stay in separate groups or bubbles from 20 July, the Department for Education has confirmed in updated guidance.
From 20 July nurseries will no longer be required to keep children in small groups, or ' bubbles'.
From 20 July nurseries will no longer be required to keep children in small groups, or ' bubbles'.

Previously, children had to keep within ‘small, consistent groups within settings’ but this requirement will be removed.

New guidance has also been released for schools in England from September, which says that attendance will be compulsory for all pupils and will be based on them staying within their year groups in separate bubbles.

Early years settings should still minimise ‘mixing where possible’ and all other protective measures must remain in place.

The guidance says that it is possible to do this because the UK alert level is now at 3 and the prevalence COVID-19 is down, and the NHS test and trace system is ‘up and running’.

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