The Government has announced that schools and nurseries should close from Monday (23 March), but expects some to stay open to provide care for a limited number of children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response, and cannot be safely cared for at home.
Emergency legislation is also going through Parliament, with a second reading of the Covid-19 bill on Monday, which would give local authorities the powers to enforce nurseries to either close or stay open for key workers, as well as the relaxation of some requirements, such as ratios.
While nursery workers and teachers are included as 'key workers', there is no direct reference to childminders (see comment below).
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