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Original poster

The List of Keyworkers is here

294 replies

noblegiraffe · 20/03/2020 00:17

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.

OP posts:
teaandajammydodger · 20/03/2020 00:45

I honestly don’t know where to begin with that list. We had been told to staff with a ‘skeleton staff’. There’s no chance of that now!!!

WyfOfBathe · 20/03/2020 00:46

But it isn’t everyone in most of those sectors. It’s only those who are essential to keeping the service running. That’s going to be a fairly small % of staff at eg a utility company.

This is where I'm really hoping that companies will be strict on their definition of essential, especially if there are people who they may end up having to pay a salary to either way.

As a teacher, I was very willing to continue going in to look after the children of absolutely key staff (and vulnerable pupils, of course). I will still volunteer, but am much more apprehensive about going in to face potentially fairly large numbers of students, especially given the high number of parents who work in tech and finance companies, often with commutes to London.

Does anyone know what other countries are doing? In French news, I've only heard about childcare for healthcare workers, but presumably they must be providing something for the other emergency services at least?

Glaceon · 20/03/2020 00:46

Theres no way everyones just gonna be at school like normal because of this. They're not gonna be learning because of staffing. A lot of kids are pretty worried and upset. Even just emotionally they are better off at home.

My partners daughter was crying earlier. I think it's the uprooting but it cant be helped. Shes been yanked out of a school she only started in september, is having to listen to constant hygiene instructions in some form especially as the youngest is not behaving particularly well and is doing things like shoving her feet in peoples faces.

We have to though their mums got a newborn who's been admitted with sepsis. Shes literally locked in a room in hospital until covid tests come back on the baby.

So on top of everything theyve had to be dropped back to us a day early. Yes it all seems whitney and trivial but to these kids their world has just changed over night.

Cannot imagine wanting to leave any of them at school with this stress.

ShastaBeast · 20/03/2020 00:47

Employers need to offer flexibility to enable parents to work at home around children also being home. So expectations lowering with regards to hours worked and flexible around when. I know DH could do this and I’ve done it in the past.

We’ve been offered a place due to SN but I’m planning to decline. More so seeing the list and how many kids there will be. Plus I feel safer with them home and able to have control and travel if needed - we’re ill right now in London so should be immune in a week or two I hope.

Ellmau · 20/03/2020 00:48

Wider than I expected.

Did anyone else notice they included the BBC?

teaandajammydodger · 20/03/2020 00:51

I can tell you right now that the parents at my school will all be clamouring for their entitlement of free childcare. We will be at least 3/4 full!

LisaSimpsonsbff · 20/03/2020 00:51

This is where I'm really hoping that companies will be strict on their definition of essential, especially if there are people who they may end up having to pay a salary to either way.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you but surely this is exactly the problem - why wouldn't a company want to classify everyone they can as 'essential' if that way they get employees who can work more and better because they have childcare covered? I'm actually wondering if work will be a bit less understanding (they've been very good so far) if they think that as the wife of a teacher we could have had childcare if I'd pushed harder...

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 20/03/2020 00:52

Don’t forget to add in the vulnerable children and kids with EHCPs.

OP posts:
CodLiverOil556 · 20/03/2020 00:54

Crematorium worker here and thank goodness I'm on the list

Angryrant55 · 20/03/2020 00:55

Well TV news is essential.

Do doctor receptionist' come under nhs support staff i wonder. Cant run the gp sugeries without them.

Kmx123 · 20/03/2020 00:55

Absolute sh** show

Cohle · 20/03/2020 00:56

I think the list necessarily has to be broad. It just requires people to behave sensibly and decently.

Employers obviously have an important role to play in making sure as few workers as possible are deemed essential. Obviously e.g. some bank staff are essential but many aren't - I don't think it was realistic to expect the government to provide very granular detail.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 20/03/2020 01:00

The problem is we’re shutting today and reopening on Monday to these children. How can we plan for numbers when people are going to need to check with their employer and get back to us?

OP posts:
Angryrant55 · 20/03/2020 01:01

And sale of food presumbly is everyone in the supermarkets.

Post office and royal mail workers not on here - been told by staff in my local one that post offices been told they must remain open for distribution of money reasons.

WyfOfBathe · 20/03/2020 01:02

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you but surely this is exactly the problem - why wouldn't a company want to classify everyone they can as 'essential' if that way they get employees who can work more and better because they have childcare covered?

No, I completely agree with you.

I'm just hoping that somebody high up in at least some of those companies will think about the impact of their decisions and only classify people as 'essential' who truly are, and allow as many people as possible to wfh even if it's against normal policy or they have children in the background.

DBML · 20/03/2020 01:02

Honestly, keep your children at home if you possibly can. Schools are going to become really dangerous places to be in the coming weeks. We are about thirteen days behind Italy according to the news this evening and coronavirus is going to spread.
I teach secondary and the children do not wash their hands, no matter how much you nag. They do share drinks and food. They do sit close and share things like earphones/ screens/ pens etc. We are not trained to keep them safe from a virus. We will do our best, but that’s all we can do.

The childcare that schools are about to provide will not be very educational. There are too many demands on staff that we are unable to create a valuable learning experience. So, if if it’s not absolutely necessary, please keep your children home and safe. Better for them to be getting on your nerves, than suddenly the U.K. realising that ‘oh shit, children can be affected quite badly too’.

Cohle · 20/03/2020 01:03

It is baffling that having presumably been aware of the possibility of school closures for some weeks, the government appear not to have given this any real thought. They presumably have the approaches of other countries to draw on too...

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 20/03/2020 01:04

Posties are on there under Utilities, Communication and Financial Service.

OP posts:
Glaceon · 20/03/2020 01:04

The problem is we’re shutting today and reopening on Monday to these children. How can we plan for numbers when people are going to need to check with their employer and get back to us?

I think they are working on the assumption most people will want to be at home with their kids, and to sort it out gradually over the next couple of weeks for the ones going back.

I really dont think people will just send their kids in tho

Angryrant55 · 20/03/2020 01:05

Scratch that post servies at the bottom.

Kmx123 · 20/03/2020 01:07

@DBML couldn't agree more

Angryrant55 · 20/03/2020 01:08

I suspect kids of education staff wlll use this a lot as they less likely to have other childcare due to not working school holidays or shift work.

Falacy · 20/03/2020 01:08

I cannot understand how France have done this for the children of key - KEY!!!! - workers, and specifically stated that it is only to be used where there are no other alternatives (such as neighbours or relatives) and yet we, the UK, manage to fuck it up so much.

I'm trying to think of a job that you couldn't shoehorn into that list and really struggling.

This is yet another case of the gov stepping back and relying on people to sort it out amongst themselves. Hoping people will be sensible. Praying people won't take the utter piss.

How's that strategy working for social distancing, Boris?

How's it working for panic buying?

Yep 👍🏻 The general public, in general, are selfish arseholes. How can the PM not be aware of this?

LisaSimpsonsbff · 20/03/2020 01:08

This has just been posted on the other thread: www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers.

Note: 4.2 If only one parent or carer is a critical worker, can I send my children in to school?
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.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 20/03/2020 01:10

As I said, I had no intention of using this but I'm now a bit worried that I might come under some pressure to as it fairly clearly says I can, and work might be a lot less understanding about paying me to do less than my full job if they see it as a choice.