'Nurseries will close': Shrewsbury provider pleads for clarity over Government funding

Katie Wellington, who runs Katie's Kids Nursery in Shrewsbury, was speaking after the policy for funding available to nurseries was changed.

Initially it was understood that they would be able to furlough staff and continue to receive Early Years Funding, although that has been thrown into doubt.

Mrs Wellington said that without access to both the job retention scheme and early years funding some nurseries will be faced with closure.

More Covid-19 coverage:

• See the latest coronavirus stories from Shropshire and beyond

• Coronavirus: Latest number of deaths and confirmed cases in Shropshire, Telford and Mid Wales

• Star Neighbours - how you can give and get help locally

In a letter to Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski, she said: "Nurseries will close. Many, including ours, may not be able to sustain this pandemic without support that was initially promised.

"We need absolute clarity on exactly what the DfE/LA intend to do with regards to funding and furloughing our staff.

"We need to know that the goalposts will not keep shifting.

"The situation is uncertain enough for all of us, without these last-minute, knee-jerk reactions being thrown at us after we have acted in good faith and followed all guidance hitherto given."

Mr Kawczynski's office said he would be taking up the issue with the Minister for Education, Gavin Williamson MP.

Mrs Wellington said she had initially arranged to keep the nursery open, but as more key workers decided to keep children at home, they had no option but to temporarily close, and furlough staff.

However, she says the current situation means the actions taken to save the business could be in vain.

She said: "The two assurances that we were given initially – that we could furlough any staff who we did not have work for and claim 80 per cent of their salary and that we would receive our Early Years funding whether open or closed – have now both been changed at the 11th hour, after we have all spent hours working out how to survive and safeguard the future of a vital resource to over 80 Shrewsbury families.

"This latest change feels like an attempt to force us all to open, operating at a loss in the possibility that families need any childcare, despite the national figures showing that there are very few children in settings, and despite the fact this is surely going to contribute to the spread of germs in an international pandemic.

"In short, we are following Government guidelines and being penalised for doing so, at the potential cost of the business having to close permanently."