Coronavirus Updates - Support for Pre-school Childcare
Last updated Thursday 21 May 2020 at 17:00
The Early Years’ Service are working in close partnership with the childcare sector across Torfaen to provide childcare for Emergency Service’s and Key Essential Workers for children under the age of 4 year’s. Following the Welsh Government’s announcement on Friday 20th March, where possible, children should remain at home. Therefore, the childcare sector will only be giving access for the above sector and restricting access for all other childcare places following the guidance.
If you are an Emergency Service Employee or Key Essential Worker and require childcare for a child 0-4 year old, please contact the Early Years team on 01633 647400 / 648114 or 648115, Monday – Friday between 8.30am – 4.30pm.
We are working directly with key services and our childcare providers to ensure provision in place for our vulnerable children.
We are ensuring that all existing childcare provision based on school sites remains open even if the school itself is closed.
Guidance on childcare for parents and childcare providers during the coronavirus pandemic from Welsh Government can be found here.
Childcare Funding for Critical Key workers and vulnerable children
Welsh Government has recently announced that eligible critical workers and vulnerable children will receive childcare funding through the new Coronavirus Childcare Assistance Scheme (C-CAS) during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Eligible parents can apply for the C-CAS funding here.
If you have any queries please email the Family Information Service fis@torfaen.gov.uk.
Details from Welsh Government can be found here:
Childcare hub for Key Workers - Extended hours
The Early Years Childcare Hub at Garnteg Integrated Children’s Centre, based at Garnteg Primary School, Garndiffaith, Pontypool has extended its opening hours for key workers and vulnerable children.
Sessions are available 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday for 2-4 year olds only and for a maximum of 8 children per session. Parents who require a place for Garnteg ICC childcare hub will need to book on a weekly basis. New booking forms must be completed by Tuesdays to book childcare for the following week. Only weekly bookings will be accepted.
Information on key worker eligibility is available here.
In order to register your child please complete the Coronavirus Childcare Assistance Scheme (C-CAS) Application Form and email directly to EarlyYearsABSHub2@torfaen.gov.uk. If you have any queries please call Freephone: 0800 019 6330.
For further information read the whole Extended support for pre-school childcare news article here.
Information for Registered Childcare Settings
If you are registered with CIW you must notify them of any changes or incidents at your service
You should notify CIW of confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 of people using the service, staff and the family of staff. By suspected, we mean people showing symptoms of the virus (new continuous cough and high temperature).
Please use CIW Online to notify us and report as you would any infectious disease. If your childcare and play service (including childminders) is now closed please inform us, the relevant notification can be found under "Leadership and Management" on CIW Online.
Information on the support for childcare providers during the coronavirus pandemic from Welsh Goverment can be found here.