Coronavirus: The ‘essential’ key workers who can still send children to school. ????
Many schools are shutting their gates until further notice as the government ramps up measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Department for Education has published a list of “key workers” deemed “essential” to the COVID-19 response and whose children will continue to be cared for at school amid the pandemic.
“If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision,” the Department for Education said.
The list has been separated into eight categories:
Health and social care:
Includes frontline health and social care staff – such as doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, as well as support and specialist staff in the health and social care sector. In addition, those working in supply chains, including producers and distributors of medicines and personal protective equipment are included.
Education and childcare:
Includes nursery, teaching staff and social workers, as the department said these workers are required to deliver their plans.
Key public services:
Those required to run the justice system, religious staff, as well as those responsible for managing the deceased and journalists providing public service broadcasting are on the list.
Local and national government:
The list “only includes administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services”, including payment of benefits.
Food and other necessary goods:
Includes those involved in the production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery of food.
Public safety and national security:
Police, support staff, Ministry of Defence civilian staff and armed forces personnel are on the list, along with fire and rescue staff, as well as those responsible for border security, prison and probation staff.
Transport:
Includes those who will keep “air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response”.
Utilities, communication and financial services:
Staff required to keep oil, gas, electricity, water and sewerage operations running are on the list, along with those in the civil nuclear, chemical and telecommunications sectors. Those in postal services and working to provide essential financial services provision are also included.
