Millions of parents across England are having to work out how to look after their children after schools were closed as part of the new national lockdown.
Children up and down the country went to school on Monday - with the government insisting they were safe - only to learn later that day that all primary schools, secondary schools and colleges will close with immediate effect and GCSE and A-level exams are set to be cancelled.
Except for the children of key workers and vulnerable children, all kids must now learn remotely from home.
However, the government has said that early years settings including nurseries, alternative provision and special schools will remain open during lockdown, and "vulnerable children and children of critical workers can continue to use registered childcare, childminders and other childcare activities".
Rules for nurseries
Official government advice says that nurseries and childminders should make changes to help reduce contact between children and reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
This includes rearranging classrooms, staggering timetables so start/finish times, breaks and mealtimes are spread out during the day.
Nurseries are also advised: "It is imperative that education, childcare and children’s social care settings conduct risk assessments around managing groups of children within the setting.
"This should include limiting the number of children in each group and reducing this to provide more space in each classroom or learning area."
Keeping the same children and staff together from day to day is also encouraged.
Surfaces, objects and toys should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, while hands should also be washed frequently.
However, nurseries are warned against using soft toys or toys with small parts that are difficult to clean.
Outside nurseries, parents, guardians and carers should be discouraged from gathering at entrances, and should not enter "as far as possible".
While PPE should be available in case a child develops symptoms, the government adds that "no additional PPE is necessary because these are non-symptomatic children in a non-healthcare setting and so the risk of viral transmission is very low".
