Perth and Kinross Council is now inviting category two key workers to apply for places at its children’s activity centres.
The council expanded its applications from Monday (March 30) at noon to include other health and care workers, and wider public sector workers providing critical and emergency welfare services, such as the fire, police and prison services.
Last Thursday, the council opened its five hubs, initially just to the children of category one key workers with no alternative childcare.
The five hubs are located at: North Inch Campus, Kinross Primary School, Community School of Auchterarder, Newhill Campus, Blairgowrie and Invergowrie Primary School.
Perth and Kinross Council says more "may be required depending on the identified needs of families."
A spokesperson said: "We will be keeping our response to the needs for childcare under continual review to ensure that there is sufficient supply.
"The centres will operate throughout the week and work is underway to provide weekend opening if necessary.
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"A number of Partner Provider Nurseries and registered childminders will also be providing spaces for children over the coming weeks.
"Only those children who have been offered places can attend."
The expansion of provision means people in the following roles can now apply: NHS Tayside staff; health and social care staff; GPs and associated staff; PKC staff and partner organisations staff providing children's activity centre function; energy providers - eligible staff will have been given a letter identifying them as key workers; social work staff; Police Scotland staff; Scottish Fire and Rescue staff; Scottish Ambulance Service staff; Scottish Prison Service staff; burial staff, and military staff involved in COVID-19 work.
Sheena Devlin, PKC's executive director of education and children's services said: "In line with national guidance, we would prefer children to stay at home wherever possible.
"But we will provide care, at one of children's activity centres or through partner providers, for key workers where necessary.
"Expanding the range of eligible workers will mean an increasing number of children being looked after, however we will maintain arrangements where they are looked after in small groups in order to minimise the spread of Coronavirus."
Anyone who completed PKC's key worker survey and thinks they meet the criteria should contact their line manager for confirmation of their key worker status.
A PKC spokesperson said: "National guidance recommends that employers should work with unions and staff to identify those workers who are vital to the Coronavirus response and for the delivery of essential and safe services; consider introducing new shift patterns, home working, recruiting more staff or dropping non-essential tasks to reduce demand for places at Children's Activity Centres.
"Employers should also speak to staff to see if they have access to any other appropriate childcare. This may include another parent or carer who is not a key worker.
"Applications can be made by completing our online application form."
