EA Officers are actively gathering information about which schools and pre-schools are open for the children of key workers.
We want to assist key workers with finding a school or pre-school in a suitable location, if their usual school/pre-school is not able to take their child at this time.
If you have contacted your school and have established that they are unable to take your child at this time, either in your school or through any cluster arrangement that they may be part of, please complete the Key Worker School Placement Request
If you are a key worker and need to speak with one of our officers please phone the EA COVID-19 line 028 38368186 and select option 1.
If you are a school principal and need to speak with one of our officers about the placement of key worker children, please phone the EA COVID-19 line 028 38368186 and select option 2.
Support for Key Workers
Who are ‘key workers’?
The Department of Education has published information on its website which includes a definition of key worker.
What is ‘supervised learning’?
The Department of Education has published a definition on supervised learning.
I am a key worker, how do I arrange for my child to be placed in a school while I go to work?
If you have contacted your school and have established that they are unable to take your child at this time, either in your school or through any cluster arrangement that they may be part of, you can complete a short online form We can work with your school and with you as appropriate to try to arrange alternative provision in another school or cluster close by.
You may be aware of other schools in the area where key worker children have been placed; however please don’t contact these schools directly, and we will contact those schools on your behalf.
I am a key worker, am I required to send my child to a school with food?
Yes we are currently asking all key workers to supply a packed lunch for their child along with snacks when they are in school. If your child is normally entitled to free school meals you will receive payment for this. Visit https://www.eani.org.uk/getfsm
I am a key worker and I am required to be at work during evenings and weekends. Do schools open at these times?
Schools are not normally open to children of key workers during evenings and weekends. However we will keep this under review.
I am a principal, can teaching and non-teaching staff from schools which are closed, come in to my school or can I work with another school?
Yes, we are encouraging all schools to work together to provide for children of key workers and vulnerable children. This includes sharing a staff rota. Further guidance around clustering arrangements can be found on the Department of Education’s website.