Key workers’ kids to stay in schools

SCOTTISH councils were yesterday drawing up lists of key workers whose children will be allowed to remain in Scottish schools.

The main categories were set out by the Scottish Government, with Education Secretary John Swinney confirming the children of key workers, such as nurses and police officers, will continue to get “access to appropriate learning and childcare” from their local authority despite the nationwide schools’ closure.

Swinney said: “To help slow the spread, all schools and ELC (Early Learning and Childcare) settings will close, with the exception of critical provision to protect some groups or activities.

“These include childcare for key workers, for vulnerable children or allowing senior pupils to finish coursework for national qualifications.

“Some schools and ELC settings will therefore stay open for these purposes, depending on the arrangements that local authorities make.

“Broadly, key workers will be health and care workers directly

BY SALLY HIND supporting the coronavirus response, critical primary and community care, teachers and staff providing childcare; energy suppliers and wider public, private or third sector workers providing emergency or critical welfare, national infrastructure services, or other services without which there would be a significant impact on Scotland.

“Local authorities are best placed to decide on the exact definition based on local needs which will obviously differ in island and rural communities to that in our cities.”

The Scottish government guidance says that if one parent is a key worker and the other is not, the non-key worker should normally be expected to provide childcare.

Vulnerable children including those who are supported by social care, those with welfare needs, and others including young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care plans will also remain in school.