LEYF Launches Capital’s Fourth Emergency Childcare Service to Keep Key Workers Functional
London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) has today responded to the Government’s call to provide essential childcare to keyworkers* during the coronavirus by operating as the Capital’s fourth emergency service.
LEYF, the UK’s largest childcare charity and social enterprise which operates 39 nurseries across London, has created a new logistical plan identifying which parents are essential workers and which children are the most vulnerable. Staff considered to be low risk have been aligned on a rota scheme across 25 of its nurseries – with strict measures to enforce social distancing and mitigate the risk of potential cross infections.
Whilst 14 nurseries will close today against a set of health and safety criteria, the remaining 25 will form hubs across London to ensure all children entitled to a nursery place can have one. Tighter hygiene practices are also being instigated as priority.
Nurseries are the lifeline in keeping people in work and the economy afloat which is why this essential service must be fully supported by the Government who announced last week that it will pay 80% of salary for staff who are kept on by their employer, covering wages of up to £2,500 a month. This will mean that nurseries can continue to operate on a reduced scale in the short term.
For any key worker parents looking for emergency childcare, please contact customerservices@leyf.org.uk