The List of Keyworkers is here

[noblegiraffe]

The long-awaited list of keyworkers who will be expected to continue to send their children to school is here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Tbh it seems that it would have been quicker to list people who aren’t keyworkers. It’s going to be way more than schools were expecting and I’m not sure how we’ll cope.

Here, all criminal law proceedings have been cancelled. If you you commit a crime atm you are either given a suspended fine or sentence if minor, and anything major is straight into jail, do not pass go. Crimes like tax fraud are not being dealt with. Lawyers needed are really minimal right now.

The list is ridiculous.
DH is a teacher, and we have many many teacher friends. At the moment everyone had been told they are expected in school as normal.
I am frustrated because I had fully intended to Lockdown to protect my family. I am now unable to do that because DH has to go in to school. And these children of healthcare workers are highly likely to be carriers lf the virus. DH is therefore unable to protect himself from exposure, and so I can't stop us getting it.

Many parents ay school gates here this morning fully intending to use the DC school as childcare as long as they can rather than having them in the house while they WFH.

Boris needs to be brave and start making tough decisions.

The number of layers who are "essential to the running of the justice system" is minuscule. Those who take the piss can and should be reported to the SRA.

Just highlighting a key paragraph in the guidance that everybody is missing:

If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

CALL TO ACTION - Everyone who is in charge of a childcare/education setting please enforce this (except where it's obvious of course), and for those of you who just work there, please highlight this quickly to those in charge. Stop the selfish (but scared of losing their jobs etc) parents who are not critical from putting the children/families of those who actually are critical at extra risk.

I've asked at work whether we would be considered crucial to the "justice system" (I didn't think we would be) both equity partners I spoke to have said doubtful and envisage it being some civil service lawyers or lawyers in maybe criminal lawyers.

It’s my boss deciding if I’m on that list or not. He expects me in on Monday to hear his decision in person so I guess I know.

It’s completely back to front. But I guess they want to try everything before coming out and saying it directly.

The issue is that workplaces aren't closing. I work for a car dealership on the phones booking in services etc and we are open and busy!

Ahhh dh would be a non key worker who's salary pays the mortgage and bills... And I'm a nurse... I don't mind paying a childminder if I'm not priority for government childcare but is this allowed? Or would it be cash in hand/unofficial?

So little information!

They really need to clarify the situation where there are two parents and one is a key worker. It would be ridiculous to keep sending children in where there is a stay at home parent, for example. Completely defeats the point. I'd like to think those families would have some sense and decency and keep their children home, but who knows.

My DH is on the list, I am not. I'm working from home and it's going to be awful and very difficult with the children about, but I would not send them in given the option as I will be at home.

School seem to think its SN kids with EHCP only and are saying if a parent at home parents aren't eligible. Sure they will get people trying anyway.

@catladyp I think it's perfectly clear (from the link in the first post):

Please, therefore, follow these key principles:
- If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.

They really need to clarify the situation where there are two parents and one is a key worker. It would be ridiculous to keep sending children in where there is a stay at home parent, for example.

I really don't know how they could make it clearer to be fair.

"Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be."

"If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be."

"Children with at least one parent or carer who are identified as critical workers by the government can send their children to school if required."

Yet there are news articles stating that if one parent is a key worker then you can send them to school...

Because that's true. If there is no reasonable alternative.

"if required"... that's not clarity

I'm just hoping the hospital will be flexible... Maybe allow those in the little children + wfh other parent situation to volunteer for weekend shifts? Plus one weekday and we can eke out dh's leave to cover that.

I don't want to send my baby and toddler anywhere! But asking the breadwinner to take unpaid leave indefinitely and 24/7 availability from the key worker is... 😕

@CatLadyP

You can send your child in for childcare as a last resort.

My HR dept have just told me that it isn't for them to confirm but an issue for the local council (I work in a city law firm). Apparently the Council get to say who is and who isn't a keyworker for the purposes of childcare / schools?

yes indeed. It is also very hard to decide so I suspect most working parents will be at the mercy of arbitrary school heads' decisions and might be better off clubbing together with other parents to hire someone to coach/mind them (this is for all the parents still required to go into work - which is loads of people in all kinds of sectors and those working from home - it is impossible to do most jobs working from home with children around)

Some employers may also choose to put on some kind of childcare help, child minder, tutors etc etc for children of workers - much much cheaper solution than losing valuable senior workers.

What is a "reasonable alternative" though? Where the non key worker parent would have to take unpaid parental leave some people will consider that they need to send the kids in rather than do that. Or where the parent is working from home but doesn't want to do it with the kids about?

Is a pharmacy assistant classed as a key worker? Wondering if it comes under distribution of medical supplies.

On playground this morning parents saying that they were sending their child in because of a part time key worker in order for non key worker to work from home.

In families where both parents work but are not key workers, at least one of them will have to juggle working from home whilst looking after the children or take unpaid parental leave.

In families where there is one key worker parent the other parent will have to take the hit.

In some of those families the non key worker may be the main earner or in a senior position where they can't afford to be away from work for long periods. Those people may well look to still send their children to school.

There should be clearer guidance and there has to be a limit somewhere.

Anybody that's considering abusing these rules like this, even if you are worried about finances - losing job etc, please watch the videos that were on Sky News today showing Italian ICU in hospital. Now tell me you can't find some alternative arrangement or 'want to' have your children with you at work.