Coronavirus: Full list of 'key workers' whose children can still go to school in pandemic

It comes after education secretary Gavin Williamson announced that schools would shut from Monday - with some staying open to look after children of key workers.

A government statement said: ‘It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children.

‘But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.’

The statement warned parents should not rely on grandparents or friends or family with underlying health conditions to look after children as they are most at risk from Covid-19.

Youngsters should observe ‘the same social distancing principles as adults,’ the statement said.

Boarding and residential schools will should stay open, it added.

If a school closes, key worker parents should contact the local authority who will help

Workers should confirm with their employers that ‘their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service’.

Key workers list

Health and social care

:: Includes but not just doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers.

:: Support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector.

:: Workers in the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

Education and childcare

:: Nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the Covid-19 response to deliver this approach.

Key public services

:: Workers essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services.

:: Those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.

Local and national government

:: Only administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the Covid-19 response or delivering 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, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).

Public safety and national security

:: Police and support staff.

:: Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic).

:: Fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.

SEE MORE: Patients with underlying health conditions are recovering and being discharged home from Southampton General Hospital

Transport

:: Workers who keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the Covid-19 response.

:: Those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.

Utilities, communication and financial services

:: Staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the Covid-19 response.

:: Key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services).

:: Postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.The

The government statement added: We are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings for continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of our country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease.’