Government has to make sure working parents get the support they need

Commenting on school closures in the worst-affected pandemic hotspots, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The health and safety of school staff, children and parents and the wider community has to come first.

"But the government must make sure working parents in areas where primary schools are closed get the support they need. Ministers must encourage employers to make use of the job retention scheme to furlough mums and dads who can’t work because of childcare.

"And employers should also agree to flexible working – such as compressed hours – to accommodate parents' childcare responsibilities."