Key workers identified by the Government will see childcare extended amid the coronavirus pandemic

But who is identified as a key worker? These are workers who are working in what is considered a ‘critical sector’.

Key workers include:

• Doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers and other frontline health and social care staff or staff who work to maintain the sector.
• Food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, and anyone essential for key good such as veterinary medicines.
• Public safety workers including police, those in the armed forces, firefighters and prison staff.
• In terms of local and national government, the provision only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the coronavirus response or essential public services, such as benefit payments.
• Workers essential for air, water, road and rail transport, as well as communication and financial services staff, including postal workers and waste disposal workers.
• Those essential to running the justice system, religious staff, charities, undertakers and their staff, and journalists and broadcasters.

Additionally, the provision includes childcare for support and teaching staff and education professional who must stay active for the Government's response strategy to work.

In another video update, the leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Philip Whitehead said: “Key workers have now been identified by the government so that provision can be done in schools for their children.

“We are liaising with schools to ensure that this can happen from Monday.

“If you think you can be a key worker, talk to your manager or the company boss in the first instance to see if you’re defined as such and then provision can be identified.”

You can find a full list of key workers at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision