Government Reveals Official List of Key Workers Whose Kids Get School Priority Amid COVID-19 Shutdowns
The Department for Education has dropped its official list of “key workers” whose children will get priority access to schools while the rest close to curb COVID-19. From Monday 23rd March, most schools will shut, but those kids whose parents are in critical roles can still get classroom care.
Who Qualifies as Key Workers?
The Government’s statement makes it clear: if your job is crucial to fighting COVID-19 or falls within the critical sectors below, and you can’t keep your child safe at home, your child gets priority school access.
Health and Social Care
- Doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and frontline volunteers
- Support staff vital to the health and social care system
- Workers in medical supply chains, including makers and distributors of medicines and protective gear
Education and Childcare
- Nursery and teaching staff
- Social workers and specialist education professionals key to the COVID response
Key Public Services
- Justice system staff
- Religious workers, charity and frontline service workers
- Those managing deceased individuals
- Journalists and broadcasters delivering public service
Local and National Government
- Admin roles essential to COVID-19 response or vital public services like benefits payments
Food and Other Necessary Goods
- Workers in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery
- Those providing other key goods including hygienic and veterinary medicines
Public Safety and National Security
- Police, Ministry of Defence, armed forces, and related support staff
- Fire and rescue, National Crime Agency, border security, prison and probation staff
- National security roles both home and abroad
Transport
- Those keeping air, water, road, and rail transport operational during COVID-19
- Transport system workers vital to supply chains
Utilities, Communication and Financial Services
- Banking and financial services staff
- Oil, gas, electricity, water, sewerage workers
- Telecommunications, IT, data infrastructure, 999 and 111 services
- Postal services, payments providers, waste disposal workers
What Parents Need to Know
If your role fits these critical categories, check with your employer to confirm your job is essential to keeping vital services running. If your usual school is closed, contact your local authority for alternatives nearby.
Department spokesperson: “As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“The government has provided clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation, and social distancing.
“If children can stay safely at home, they should. Parents are urged to keep kids home where possible and only send them to school if absolutely necessary.
“Schools remain safe but fewer children attending means less chance of spreading the virus to the vulnerable.”
Key Advice for Parents
- If possible, keep children at home – it’s safer for all.
- Children needing specialist support, or whose parents are critical workers, will be prioritised for schooling.
- Don’t rely on those in strict social distancing categories for childcare – no grandparents or vulnerable family members.
- Parents must ensure children don’t socialise and spread the virus. Keep to adult social distancing rules.
- Residential, boarding, and special schools will continue caring for children wherever possible.
The Government thanked teachers and school workers helping provide care during this national crisis. Their efforts are vital in the fight against COVID-19.
