As we look ahead towards the new school session in August, we need to ensure continuing provision for the children of those who identify as key workers and require continued access to childcare during this time.
This application process is for key worker children places only. Ongoing intelligence of school staff and partners will determine the children who are offered increased provision under the vulnerability category.
All parents/carers who currently identify as being a key worker should complete the application form detailing occupations and employers. You will also be asked to identify which key worker category applies to your application. Where a parent/carer identifies as category 3, a letter of support from your employer will be required. This letter will confirm the key worker status and the flexibility provided by the employer. Please note, BOTH parents will require to be key workers to access this provision in a school or early years setting.
The Scottish Government has issued guidance on what constitutes key workers.
Key Workers fall into three categories:
Category 1 – Health and Care workers directly supporting COVID response and associated staff; Health and Care workers supporting life threatening emergency work as well as critical primary and community care provision; Energy suppliers (small numbers identified as top priority already); staff providing childcare / learning for other category 1 staff.
Category 2 – All other Health and Care workers and wider public sector workers providing emergency / critical welfare services (e.g. Fire, Police, Prisons, Social Workers, etc), as well as those supporting our Critical National Infrastructure, without whom serious damage to the welfare of the people of Scotland would be caused.
Category 3 – All workers without whom there could be a significant impact on Scotland (but where the response to Covid-19, or the ability to perform essential tasks to keep the country running, would be severely compromised).
The categories have been introduced to ensure that frontline health and social care staff can access a place, if required, first. Places left after this initial allocation will be distributed on the basis of the above categories. Due to limited space being available in each of our buildings, we cannot guarantee that all applicants will be able to access key worker provision for their child/children. Please note, the categories remain subject to national guidance and the provision offered may change if advised by the Scottish Government.
To submit a Key Worker Childcare Application form please scan the QR code or click on the link below:-
Please ensure that you complete this application as soon as possible, and by the end of the day on Monday 22nd June 2020, to ensure that we can process these quickly to plan for the next school session.
If you have any difficulty in submitting your application form, you should email educationresponse@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk and a member of staff within the Education Department will look to resolve the difficulty.
