Schools in Worcestershire currently providing care for critical workers will continue to do so during the Easter break according to the county council

They will be continuing to provide care for children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

The county council say schools and educational settings have a key role to play, alongside other partners, in meeting the priority to preserve life, prevent spread of infection and keep critical services going.

Catherine Driscoll, director of children’s services for Worcestershire county council, said: “I have been overwhelmed by how well Worcestershire’s schools, colleges and early years settings have risen to the challenge we all face in our response to Covid-19.

"We have worked closely together to ensure that there is provision to meet the needs of those children and young people who need to be in school and I am grateful to everyone involved for their flexibility.

“Where schools are able to provide care, this will continue for the Easter Half Term break. If critical workers are able to look after their children safely at home they should do so, even if their work is critical to the response to coronavirus.”

Councillor Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education and Skills, said: “I’d like to thank our schools, teachers and students who have been simply great, during this unprecedented situation, and continue to do our county proud.

"As a working parent myself, I totally understand the pressures that working parents are currently facing and appreciate this is a very difficult time.”

For those who cannot keep children safely at home and who work in one of the critical sectors listed below, their children will be made a priority for education provision when they are at work. The critical areas include:

• Health and social care

• Education and childcare

• Key public services - This includes those 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

• Food and other necessary goods

• Public safety and national security

• Transport

• Utilities, communication and financial services

For more information visit the county council website