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1 April 2020
By Alex Gamby

Childcare for parents who are Critical Workers

Dear Parents,

Kent County Council recognises that Critical Workers, like yourselves, are essential to the local and national effort in fighting Coronavirus (COVID-19), and that access to childcare at this time is vital to enable you to fulfil your roles. We have been working closely with our schools and early years and childcare years settings (pre-schools, nurseries, childminders and out of school provision) to ensure that all Critical Workers can access the childcare they need. We are grateful to staff in our schools and early years and childcare settings for their commitment to meeting the challenges they face daily in delivering this essential service to both Critical Workers’ children and to vulnerable children.

We are mindful that the Easter Holidays may put pressure on parents who are Critical Workers, as their normal holiday childcare (e.g. family/grandparents) may be compromised due to vulnerable people self-isolating or because Critical Workers themselves may be working extended hours.  Many schools and early years and childcare settings have confirmed to us that they will open during the holiday period to support their families.  Others have made arrangements with neighbouring schools or early years and childcare settings to provide this support through joint working.  If your child attends a provision that is opening during the holidays, they will have contacted you direct.

Meeting Critical Worker Childcare needs over the Easter Holidays

If you, as a Critical Worker, have any unmet childcare needs over the Easter Holidays please contact the Children and Families Information Service at [email protected] or telephone 03000 412323 where you be supported to find details of provision that is operating during this period.

Thank you so much for all the hard work you are doing to support everyone at this difficult and unprecedented time.

With best wishes,

Alex Gamby

Head of Early Years and Childcare

The Kent Together helpline provides a single, convenient point of contact for anyone in the county who is in urgent need of help during the Coronavirus pandemic. If you, or someone you know, needs help please visit  www.kent.gov.uk/KentTogether or call 03000 41 92 92. Kent Together is a collaboration between KCC, central Government, District, Borough and local councils, the voluntary and community sector, the NHS and other partners to ensure help is at hand for vulnerable people.