NURSERIES are being shut across the UK in response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
They are expected to close to children from the end of this week.
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Are private day nurseries closing due to coronavirus?
Education secretary Gavin Williamson has announced that from next week, ALL nurseries and schools in England are to close their doors to all children.
This is apart from those that are vulnerable and those whose parents are key workers
Mr Williamson told the House of Commons: “The spike of the virus is happening at a faster pace than anticipated, and it is right to consider the right measures to arrest this increase and to relieve this pressure on the health system.
Are nursery schools closing?
Yes, all are except for those catering for key workers.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), called it “absolutely devastating news” and said: “I have just expressed my total shock and disappointment to the minister who had previously assured us they would keep nurseries open as long as possible.
“How can the private nursery sector remain sustainable in the face of mass closures and expensive overheads?”
Will I still have to pay nursery fees if my child can no longer attend?
No, in the theory you will not have to pay the fees.
But some private nurseries have reportedly been asking for partial fees.
The Government has not specified its position on this.
When will nurseries re-open?
The Government is talking about nurseries and schools being closed for the “foreseeable future”.
This could mean they are shut for the entire academic year and may not open until after the summer.
Authorities are likely to want them to keep shut until the pandemic fizzles out.
