The New National Restrictions come into force on Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December, to control the spread of coronavirus.
The DfE said the guidance builds on guidance published in July, which included a range of measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus.
As previously stated, early years settings and childminders can remain open, with parents of under-fives continuing to use them as normal.
Nannies can continue to work in the home, and parents can access wraparound childcare.
Parents are able to form a childcare bubble with another household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is 13 or under.
There appears to be no restriction on the number of adults and children. Nursery World has asked the Department for Education and the Cabinet Office for clarification.
Face coverings
In early years settings, there is no change to the existing position. It is not mandatory for staff and visitors to wear face coverings.
In situations where social distancing between adults in settings is not possible (for example when moving around in corridors and communal areas), settings have the discretion to recommend the use of face coverings for adults on site, for both staff and visitors.
Disapplications
Specific EYFS disapplications are in place for any provider who cannot comply with the early years foundation stage (EYFS) requirements in full due to restrictions or requirements imposed through the national lockdown.
Visitors to the setting
Settings should restrict all visits to the setting to those that are absolutely necessary. This means suspending parent and carer visits for:
- new admissions,
- settling-in children new to the setting
- attending organised performances
Clinically extremely vulnerable children and staff
Children
More evidence has emerged that shows there is a very low risk of children becoming very unwell from coronavirus (COVID-19), even for children with existing health conditions. Most children originally identified as clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to follow original shielding advice. Parents should be advised to speak to their child’s GP or specialist clinician if they have not already done so, to understand whether their child should still be classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
Those children whose doctors have confirmed they are still clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to attend childcare or nursery during the period this advice is in place.
Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend education or childcare.
Parents of clinically extremely vulnerable children will be receiving a letter shortly confirming this advice.
Staff
Those individuals who are clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to work from home and not to go into work. Individuals in this group will have been identified through a letter from the NHS or from their GP, and may have been advised to shield in the past. Staff should talk to their employers about how they will be supported, including to work from home where possible, during the period of national restrictions.
All other staff should continue to attend work, including those living in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable.
Clinically vulnerable staff and children
Staff and children who are clinically vulnerable or have underlying health conditions but are not clinically extremely vulnerable, may continue to attend early years and childcare settings in line with current guidance.
Primary schools
The new guidance states that primary school children do not need to wear face coverings, and older children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities may be exempt from wearing them, depending on their need. No one should be excluded from education for not having a face covering.
Primary schools continue to have discretion to recommend staff and visitors wear face coverings in communal spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained, but this is not a requirement and it is for individual schools to make these decisions locally.
The requirements in relation to face coverings were already in place for schools in Local Alert Level High and Very High areas.
The DfE said that schools should work to implement the guidance as soon as possible, but have until Monday 9 November if they require extra time.