Schools are ignoring government guidelines and refusing to allow children into class unless BOTH parents are key workers, MailOnline has learned. Department for Education guidance states that only one parent needs to be a critical worker for their child to attend class – even if both parents are working from home. It adds parents who are key or critical workers should keep their children at home 'if they can'. Schools are ignoring government guidelines and refusing to allow children into class unless BOTH parents are key workers But head teachers in many areas say increasing pressure on spaces has meant they now have to ‘ration’ places, and many have chosen to prioritise families where both parents are classed as key workers.