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Childcare Provision for Key Workers During COVID-19

Fewer children making the journey to school, and fewer children in Educational Settings will lower the risk of the virus spreading and infecting vulnerable individuals in wider society. Schools, and all childcare providers, have been asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children- children who are vulnerable, and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in Health and Social Care and in other key sectors outlined below. 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.

Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

  1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
  2. If a child needs Specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a Critical Worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
  3. Parents should not rely upon for childcare those who are advised to be in the stringent Social Distancing category, such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
  4. Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way that can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same Social Distancing Principles as adults.
  5. Residential Special Schools, Boarding Schools and Special Settings continue to care for children wherever possible.

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response and you cannot keep your child safe at home, then your children will be prioritised for education provision.

Staff considered to be key in the Health Service includes, but is not limited to;

- Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics, Social Workers, Care Workers, and other Frontline Health and Social Care Staff including volunteers;

- The Support and Specialist Staff required to maintain the UK’s Health and Social Care Sector;

- Those working as part of the Health and Social Care Supply Chain, including producers and distributers of Medicines, and Medical and Personal Protective Equipment.

Eligibility for the childcare support in Gwent is:

  1. Single parents who are employed as specific key workers;
  2. Where both parents are employed as specific key workers.

More information and how to register for each Borough can be found at each of the following links: