Playgroups and children's clubs

[waterlane]

Are any of you still attending any playgroups or classes? I've heard of one baby class and playgroup that's still running during lockdown today, everything else has been cancelled. I would've thought everything had to close? Be interesting to hear from others!

I've had 2 out of 3 of the toddler groups I was attending cancelled, however there is one group I attend that is aiming to remain open during this lockdown on a reduced numbers and less regular basis. I am going to really struggle without these groups as a SAHM.

As much as I really want them to stay open, I don't understand how most of them are closing but a few are not? I thought everything had to close

None of the regular groups & classes I used to attend reopened after the first lockdown.

I started paying to go to soft play toddler time sessions every week, wasn’t cheap. They are now closed after tomorrow.

Thoroughly fed up of it now.

None of mine opened

One of ours has closed again this week. I'm waiting for an update on another but I'm not hopeful it will be allowed to continue. The 3rd still hasnt re-opened since the 1st lockdown.

I think the reason why most are closing but some are trying to stay open is that the DfE is saying that 'support groups' for mothers and babies of 15 people or less are allowed to remain open, whilst recreational ones are not. But this is a big grey area, as nearly all of the groups arguably provide some level of support (social support and SANITY in my case), but this is not their main remit. And also they have more than 15 people (that includes the babies), so on a practical level they might have to close. Also some of the venues they are in are having to close so on a practical level, they just cant run.

None of them ever restarted here

@AnnieCox18

I think the reason why most are closing but some are trying to stay open is that the DfE is saying that 'support groups' for mothers and babies of 15 people or less are allowed to remain open, whilst recreational ones are not. But this is a big grey area, as nearly all of the groups arguably provide some level of support (social support and SANITY in my case), but this is not their main remit. And also they have more than 15 people (that includes the babies), so on a practical level they might have to close. Also some of the venues they are in are having to close so on a practical level, they just cant run.

Yes, we've had a message from our forest-school type toddler group saying that they are hoping to stay open.. Apparently there was a campaign to keep toddler groups open as they provide a support group function.

I haven't read the guidance but apparently the campaign wanted it to specifically include the wording 'baby and toddler groups' so that it would cover them all. As said, all groups provide support to mothers of young children.

But obviously it depends on if the organisers want to open, whether it's financially viable with reduced numbers etc.

Most of the ones I used to attend didn't reopen so very lucky to have our preschool forest school and being open air, is pretty much as safe as a toddler group can be! And lots of mud for helping the immune system

(Though it is shutting soon anyway for the winter )

The latest guidance suggests all indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities can open if doing a supervised children's activity. But it's not clear and only came out last night so now everyone's confused and panicked. Having thought everything was closing, a lot have already made arrangements to do so.

@manicinsomniac don’t suppose you have a link to the new guidance?

@ChristmasCantComeSoonEnough Yes, here you go:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1200/pdfs/uksi_20201200_en.pdf

This is what I think is the relevant bit:
(6) Regulation 16(1) does not prevent the use of—
(a) any premises used for a restricted business or restricted service to host blood donation sessions;
(b) any premises used for the making of a film, television programme, audio programme or audio-visual advertisement;
(c) facilities for training by elite sportspersons, including stables, indoor gyms, fitness studios, and other indoor sports facilities, and any outdoor facilities for sport;
(d) indoor fitness and dance studios by professional dancers and choreographers;
(e) theatres and concert halls for— (i) training, (ii) rehearsal, or (iii) performance without an audience for broadcast or recording purposes;
(f) indoor gyms, fitness studios, indoor sports facilities and other indoor leisure centres for supervised activities for children;
(g) indoor gyms, fitness studios, indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts and other indoor leisure centres and outdoor sports courts and swimming pools by schools or providers for post-16 education or training (as defined in paragraph 1(8)(e) of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020);
(h) stables, for the purposes of any activities referred to in regulation 6(14).

bold fail on e) and f), sorry

I run a pre school play and music group and this campaigning has caused so much stress! We informed customers we will be closing and think it's definitely the right thing to do. Everyone was on board until this lobbying to keep pre school groups open. Now we have loads of people arguing we should be open. We don't feel we can call ourselves a support group but the definition now seems to have been extended to include all pre school groups. I just don't think it's right that parents could attend a different toddler activity each weekday with a roomful of people (it's now been confirmed the 15 does not have to include children under 5) when we are being asked to stay at home other than for essential reasons. It doesn't sit right with me at all.

@frantic17 I agree with you. I run a community hall and its a nightmare from the other side! I am not an expert I am a bloody volunteer and yet I have to decide what the law says/ means. AGGHHHHH

@bestbefore it really has been a nightmare! We won't be opening but hate to feel under pressure to do so because a group representing parents have been lobbying. I totally understand that pre school and baby groups are a lifeline for new parents and especially those who may have had their first child during lockdown, but it can't be right that we can all just carry on as normal in a lockdown! We are in a high Covid incidence area, people may feel differently in Tier one

Some of our local halls have just said they are closing which stops children’s activities along with everything else. I can understand that as it would be more expensive to open and heat for just the odd hour here and there.
My children do one activity that is mainly held in a building owner by the provider though so hopefully that means it will be able to continue.

@frantic17 I'd love the groups to carry on but I just don't think they can.
What concerns me just as much is the poor groups for retired folks (art/ choir/ flower arranging/ WI etc) who haven't returned AT ALL (we are tier one though that makes no difference) - imagine how they all feel - no one fights for them but the sense of isolation must be huge.
Hope it all gets back to "normal" soonest...chin up!

I think the main issue for groups for older people is that they are all considered vulnerable, including the people who run them. It wouldn’t be the best idea to get those people together in a public space used by other groups including children.

I really feel for new parents as I loved the playgroup days in the early days of being a mum. Local to be none of the playgroups / mother and toddler groups have reopened since first lockdown. The main reasons being not being given permission to run in the halls they rent, lots are run by childminders who are not currently allowed to mix at playgroups etc with the general public, we also don’t have time to carry out all the cleaning etc that is required. We advised our playgroup was going to remain closed until new year but with the infection rates on the rise we have already decided we won’t be opening it until Easter or possible next September. We have offered the parents to take over the running of it so they can open it, but so far no one has stepped up and volunteered.

DS group restarted but closed for confirmed covid case & now they’re closed again

bestbefore my MiL runs an art group through U3A, the university of the third age but there's just no demand for it. She did attempt to restart the classes but most people of a certain age are scared to leave the house, let alone go to an art group. I think it's very different with mums of young children, the demand is definitely there.

I’m pretty sure ‘supervised children’s activities’ only count as those which are run for the purpose of enabling parents to go to work, look die work or get education..... so basically holiday clubs etc. Its not for extra curricular clubs and out of school or pre school activities

‘Look for work’ 🤦‍♀️

I'm a volunteer on the committee of our local community hall, we have been wrestling with just this issue.

We restarted our playgroup at the end of September with limited spaces, prebooking, two short sessions rather than one long one (so that we can include more people). Plus masks for adults, ventilation, hand sanitizer, the usual.

Parents are so desperate for this support, many volunteer led groups have not restarted. We will aim to continue if the new guidance confirms the exemption (and babies are not included in headcount).

@beckypv I think that was the original intention but since the campaigning it's now been amended to 'parent and toddler groups can continue where they provide support to parent and/or child'