Question: Are childcare settings permitted to adjust ratios and qualifications of staff during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
section_headers: Considerations for settings that are open during this period
How can settings continue to offer care if staff are sick or self-isolating?
section_content: Childcare settings who are experiencing staff shortages should work with their
local authority to identify how appropriate provision can be put in place.
They can pool staff with another setting, or take on qualified and Disclosure
and Barring Service (DBS) checked staff from other educational settings
(including local registered childminders) which have been closed, or invite
local registered childminders to work with them at the setting. Registered
childminders can already do this under the 50/50 registration flexibility they
have.
Settings must obtain criminal records checks for new members of staff,
including volunteers. If an application has been made but the DBS disclosure
has not arrived, new staff and volunteers can still care for children as long
they are supervised by someone who has a DBS check. Under no circumstances can
an unchecked member of staff be left alone with children.
*[DBS]: Disclosure and Barring Service

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Staff can still provide care supervised until proper documents arrive.
This is an excellent answer because it describes how childcare employees can be adjusted to fit the needs of the childcare establishment during the pandemic. Therefore, this satisfies the question.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
section_headers: Early Years Foundation Stage
Can settings vary staff to child ratios and qualifications?
section_content: Paragraph 3.30 of the EYFS states:
‘Exceptionally, and where the quality of care and safety and security of
children is maintained, changes to the ratios may be made.’
We consider the extent of the coronavirus outbreak to be an exceptional
temporary circumstance in which the staff to child ratios set out in the EYFS
can be changed if necessary. However, childcare settings or schools remain
responsible for ensuring the safety and security of children in their care.
Amendments made to regulations from 24 April allow further exceptions to be
made to the qualification level that staff hold in order to be counted in the
ratio requirements. Settings should use reasonable endeavours to ensure that
at least half of staff (excluding the manager) hold at least a full and
relevant level 2 qualification to meet staff to child ratio requirements, but
this is not a legal requirement.
In nursery classes in maintained schools, caring for children aged 3 and over,
reasonable endeavours should be used to ensure that at least one member of
staff is a school teacher. Where this is not possible, there must be at least
one member of staff for every 8 children, with at least one member of staff
who holds at least a full and relevant level 3 qualification. Providers should
use their reasonable endeavours to ensure that at least half of other staff
hold at least a full and relevant level 2 qualification.
Further detail is set out in Early Years Foundation Stage: disapplications
and modifications for early years provision open during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak.
*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Changes to ratios can be made under exceptional circumstances.
This answer is excellent because it describes how adjustments to childcare staff are allowed during the pandemic, and which act allowed it. Therefore, this can answer the question.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
section_headers: What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
What else needs to happen if a child is attending a different setting than usual?
section_content: We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
Important information should be provided on day one, including emergency
contact details, dietary requirements and medical needs to safeguard the
health, safety and welfare of children.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer context is to have updated information on file. Does not address can ratios be adjusted.
This answer is bad because it does not discuss whether or not childcare staff can be adjusted or shifted around. Therefore, this does not answer the question. It only talks about which schools can or might not be able to operate.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad