CORONAVIRUS: 麻花影视criticises government confusion over PPE supply to childcare providers

The Early Years 麻花影视has鈥 today 鈥痗riticised the government鈥 following鈥 confusion鈥 over鈥 guidance issued regarding 鈥痑ccess to personal protective equipment (PPE) for childcare providers.鈥 

Guidance on 鈥榠mplementing protective measures in education and childcare settings鈥 issued by the Department for Education (DfE) on 12 May, states that education, childcare and children鈥檚 social care settings and providers should use their local supply chains to obtain PPE, but that: 鈥淲here this is not possible, and there is unmet urgent need for PPE in order to operate safely, they may approach their nearest local resilience forum.鈥濃 

However, guidance issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to local resilience forums (multi-agency groups made up of representatives from local public services, who have been supplied with PPE by government), does not include childcare providers on the list of eligible organisations that can receive PPE via the鈥 forums, (the full list is available in the editor鈥檚 notes). 

While DfE guidance states that PPE is not routinely required at childcare settings beyond what is normally worn for intimate care, it does advise that PPE should be worn by early years staff if a child starts to display symptoms of coronavirus. 

Confusion over the government guidance emerged after鈥 childcare providers鈥 across England 鈥痳eported that 鈥痩ocal resilience forums 鈥痟ad informed them 鈥痶hat they could not supply them with PPE, despite the DfE guidance. 

The Alliance鈥 contacted all the local resilience forums in England and were told by several鈥 that鈥 the 鈥疍epartment for Education guidance was an error and that they were required to follow the guidance from the鈥 MHCLG.鈥 
 

Commenting, chief executive of the 麻花影视Neil Leitch, said:鈥

鈥淭hose childcare providers planning on reopening on 1 June are working incredibly hard to ensure that they are able to do so as safely鈥 as possible.鈥 

鈥淭he DfE鈥檚 own guidance states that if a child displays symptoms of coronavirus, early years practitioners will need to wear鈥 PPE, and yet the government has failed to provide a suitable 鈥痵ystem to ensure that providers are able to access the PPE they need鈥 to deliver care safely.鈥 

鈥淚t is simply鈥 unacceptable鈥 to 鈥痩eave 鈥痗hildcare providers facing the prospect of having to reopen their doors without the necessary protective equipment. The government must act urgently to ensure that鈥 it 鈥痙elivers鈥 an鈥 appropriate system which can meet the demand for PPE within the sector.鈥濃

 

Editor notes

  • The MHCLG guidance, sent to the 麻花影视by a local resilience forum, states: 

PPE is for organisations outside of the NHS supply chain who have the highest need clinically, including:鈥 

  • Adult social care (care homes, personal assistants, homecare)鈥 

  • Children鈥檚 home鈥 

  • General Practitioners (GPs)鈥 

  • Secure Children鈥檚 home鈥 

  • Residential Special School鈥 

  • Court officers鈥 

  • Funeral services鈥 

  • 惭辞谤迟耻补谤测鈥赌赌&苍产蝉辫;

  • Local Authority (Children's Social Care)鈥 

  • Local Authority (Adult Social Care)鈥 

  • Mental health community services/Adult social workers鈥 

  • Hospices and Palliative Care鈥 

  • Primary care (only if they cannot access NHS supply routes)鈥 

  • 笔丑补谤尘补肠颈蝉迟蝉鈥赌赌&苍产蝉辫;

  • Emergency dentists鈥  

  • The Department for Education guidance, implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings, states that PPE is needed if 鈥渁 child, young person or other learner becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus while in their setting and needs direct personal care until they can return home.鈥 

It states: 鈥淎 fluid-resistant surgical face mask should be worn by the supervising adult if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. If contact with the child or young person is necessary, then disposable gloves, a disposable apron and a fluid-resistant surgical face mask should be worn by the supervising adult. If a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes, for example from coughing, spitting, or vomiting, then eye protection should also be worn.鈥 

  • The Early Years 麻花影视is the largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England. A registered educational charity, it also provides high-quality affordable childcare and education to support children and families in areas of deprivation throughout the country.
  • The 麻花影视represents 14,000 members and supports them to deliver care and learning to more than 800,000 families every year. We deliver family learning projects, offer information and advice, produce specialist publications, run acclaimed training programmes and campaign to influence early years policy and practice.
  • The 麻花影视website is