What counts as a 'play group?'

[Pastnowfuture]

My baby was born during the height of lockdown and my mental health really suffered. I have professional, therapeutic input but what I've found most helpful is meeting with other mums for informal support.

I was lucky enough to have completed NCT antenatal during pregnancy. We stayed in touch and for the past 4 weeks have met up once a week with our babies. Under the new rules this isn't allowed because babies count towards the six (there are 5 mums and 5 babies).

However, playgroups are exempt and I wondered whether we meet this criteria? If anyone has any legal knowledge your input would be most appreciated. I would also be interested to hear from cafe/restaurant owners about whether you would be willing to accomodate such a group.

Unfortunately informal Nct meet ups aren’t classed as a play group, it’s a social gathering like any other friends meet up. The exemptions are for businesses with organised groups, running in Covid secure settings. Otherwise anyone could form a ‘group’ under the list of exemptions. I’m in the same position my Nct group is too big to meet too. The only thing we can do really is to campaign for babies to be exempt from the 6 person rule.

There is a bit in the legislation on 'support groups for new parents' but I think it also says 'formally organised'. I would contact the NCT and see what they say- they must be lobbying on this.

Otherwise you could maybe all arrange to go to the same playgroup every week at a children's centre or church? Sorry, it's rubbish, the NCT meet ups were a total lifeline when I had my first.

If it's organised enough to carry insurance, then it's an organised group.
It would need to be open to anyone to really distinguish it from a group of friends meeting up.

If you want to keep meeting up, then meet do so in twos and threes. Or all join the same playgroup. Or if none exists, then set one up?

And hope that the new measures really do reduce transmissions to levels where they can be phased out

'Formally organised' usually means that the organisation has a Covid policy, or is is registered with a body that has one. Having insurance is a good proxy for that.

It's not meant to cover groups of friends. Sorry.

Mother and baby classes are running in my area. Take a look to see if there are any groups running and continue meeting up in a park on a rota basis.

It's truly rubbish that babies are included in the six. I'm in the same position, can only meet up with 3 other friends. But at least we can do that much at the moment.
Baby classes in my area are running as usual though which I'm so grateful for.

Thanks everyone, I guess it was wishful thinking. I hope everyone in the same position gets the support they need. X