Funding of £11.2m is being made available to support childcare providers with the cost of safely reopening.

The new Transitional Support Fund will help childcare providers in the private and third sectors, including out-of-school care providers, meet extra costs incurred to comply with public health guidance in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The grants are expected to help with costs for:

• increased cleaning
• investment in additional equipment and developing outdoor space to enable more outdoor learning
• adaptations to support the physical distancing of adults, such as changes to entrance and exit areas and additional signage

More information as to how providers can access the Transitional Support Fund will be available by 31 July.

Grants will be available to all private and third sector childcare providers, not just those delivering funded early learning and childcare.

Grant amounts will vary according to the size of the childcare setting and will be based on Care Inspectorate registered capacity