With a number of schools announcing they are having to close their doors to all pupils, except those of key workers, we have been inundated with messages asking, Do I count as a key worker?
According to the latest government guidance, workers in the following key sectors are deemed critical to the coronavirus response and are able to send their children to school for face-to-face teaching.
It is also worth noting that it is not necessary for both parents to be key workers and children with at least one parent who is classified as a key worker will be allowed to remain in school.
Health and social care
This includes doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers, as well as specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector, and supply chain.
Education and childcare
Childcare workers, support and teaching staff, social workers and specialist education professionals are all critical workers.
Key public services
This includes those essential to running the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering vital frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters providing public service broadcasting.
Local and national government
This only includes those delivering the coronavirus response, or essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.
Food and other necessary goods
Those involved in food production, processing, distribution and delivery – as well as those essential to the production of other key goods – are classed as key workers.
Public safety and national security
This includes police, support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel, fire and rescue service staff, National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff, and other national security roles, including those overseas.
Transport
This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the coronavirus response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.
Utilities, communication and financial services
Staff needed for essential financial services provision, the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors, information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies, waste disposal sectors, postal services and delivery, payment providers, and those working in civil nuclear, chemicals and telecommunications are also included.
