The forced closure is due to recent government guidance banning out of school settings from “re-opening”. Cheryl says this unfortunately affects critical workers for the NHS, police, and other public services.

She explained that within the ‘Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak’ update, in section 6.3, it states providers which are registered with Ofsted or with a Childminder Agency which have before and after school clubs on school premises and can ensure they follow the protective measures guidance, are able to operate.

“This is only the case for registered providers which operate on school premises. All other out of school settings are not able to reopen,” she said. “We have kept provision open for school age children before and after school, throughout this pandemic, and despite it being totally uneconomic to do so given the small numbers of children needing to come in, we stayed open because we believed we were providing an essential service. So it’s strange that now that lockdown is starting to be released that we are no longer wanted, but if that’s what the government and local authority want, so be it.”