Last week I wrote to the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson MP regarding the recent government decision to change the guidance on furloughing staff and financial assistance that would be available to the early years sector during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Government must ensure that the childcare sector is able to access both schemes, as childcare providers were originally led to believe. Even without the coronavirus outbreak, childcare providers across the country were already struggling from years of Government underfunding, this is simply not good enough from the Government.

This letter was following the letter I wrote on the 13th of March to the Secretary of State of Education to request clarification on the Government’s plans for nurseries and childminders during the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak.

As we go forward as a community, the need for childcare providers will be a vital part of the future more than ever. Without greater support from this Government, these vital parts of our community simple won’t be here as we enter the new normal.

It’s time for the Government to step up to the plate and start helping our local childcare providers which do so much for many families in East Hull.