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<p>We have provided unprecedented support to early years providers during the COVID-19
outbreak and settings have also had access to a range of business support packages,
including the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. As long as the staff in the
nursery schools affected meet the criteria for the scheme, then early years providers
are still able to furlough their staff while that scheme remains in operation, for
example, if settings have to close temporarily to manage local effects of COVID-19,
such as infections. Findings from the Childcare and Early Years Provider and Coronavirus
survey have shown that in November/December 2020, 74% of group-based providers have
made use of the Furlough Scheme at any point. Findings of this survey can be found
here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-childcare-and-early-years-providers-and-coronavirus-covid-19-wave-3"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-childcare-and-early-years-providers-and-coronavirus-covid-19-wave-3</a>.</p><p>Eligible
nurseries may also have qualified for a Business Rates discount to help reduce the
costs of their business rates bills during the COVID-19 outbreak. Eligible Nurseries
could get 100% off in the first 3 months of the 2021-22 tax year with 66% off for
the rest of the 2021-22 tax year which may help providers who have had a reduced income
as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>Additionally, eligible nurseries have
been able to access recovery loans to help with access to loans and other types of
finance, so that they can recover after the outbreak and transition period.</p><p>We
liaise regularly with local authorities, and they have not reported to us a significant
number of parents unable to secure a childcare place, either during this term or at
any time since early years settings re-opened fully on 1 June 2020. Where parents
have been unable to temporarily secure a childcare place, for example due to their
usual setting being temporarily closed due to COVID-19, this has been able to be quickly
resolved locally and local authorities are not reporting significant sufficiency of
supply issues.</p>
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