Out of school activities/classes/lessons/groups cannot happen.

[beckypv]

Guidance has just been released that says clearly that any form of activity, unless solely for the purpose of childcare to enable parents to work, cannot happen in England during this lockdown. I’ve seen so many discussions about various groups/ classes / sports / activities trying to work around / find loopholes to the message ‘stay at home’. At least this is pretty clear.

www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020#ooss

My DD does an after school forest club at her school, run outside within school ground. It is for her year group bubble only and it is not being cancelled (I asked today)?

The guidance refers to curricular PE activities going ahead ie. those that are for everyone within the school day. But ‘extra curricular’ activities should not happen. (Unless specifically for childcare)

@Paddingtonthebear this guidance was only released this afternoon

Yeah, I think they'll have to change that. It's just been released.

Lockdown will last longer. You mark my words.

These kids won’t be back to their activities until January at the very earliest.

Unless there’s a rebellion at the next vote.

My kids have had everything cancelled, all teaching online, can't see their parents just because they have turned 18 (thus university) so yes of course after school fun stuff is stopping. We are all making huge sacrifices (despite low cases here) so kids can attend essential school, got to reduce contact as much as possible including kids

What about home schooled kids that rely on these activities? I don’t HE but know people that do.

There is an exemption for home schooled activities in the guidance just been updated.

Home tutoring and elective home educating
Home tutoring and out-of-school activities to support elective home education can continue to operate provided that they are primarily used by home educating parents as part of their arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education.

Has anyone had confirmation yet from their school that their clubs are being cancelled?

As many parents will be working between 3.30-4.30pm these on-site clubs after school are providing childcare, aren’t they?

I am confused. If after school sport let's a parent stay at after 3pm is it then allowed?

stay at work

@movingonup20 my children stay at school until 5pm every day so that I can work. That won’t be changing. It will just mean that they are stuck in a classroom rather than doing exercise outside. How can that be better for their health?!!!

@beckypv but after school care is allowed. The rules mean that it’s fine for my children to sit in a classroom with their year group bubble after school but they can’t exercise with the same children outside.

Our after school club take the children out to play football etc, I’m guessing they can still do that as it is childcare.

Most after school activities won't only be attended by children who have been in the same school 'bubble' though tbf.

Sports teams, music ensembles, Scouts, Cubs etc etc all have children from different schools. That's part of their appeal and value.

It's really, really sad for the children and the people running these clubs who rely on membership for income, but keeping them going would be even more of a half-hearted lock down.

Will be interesting to see how schools interpret this if they have their own or third party run clubs or activities running before or after school hours on site where children stay within their class or year group bubble

We heard my children’s ones are cancelled. It’s already run within their year group bubble. DC told me she is put into a group with only her classmates. It’s just really sad she’s missing out on sports.

It’s multiskills so it’s fairly easy to stay within the bubble. It’s not a team sport.

Wondering if our outdoor, year group only after school forest school club will be running tomorrow, nothing from school tonight

I’m gutted for the DC about this, as well as the wonderful people who run them (for whom it is quite obviously a labour of love, and some provision may well not survive another lockdown especially if it is extended beyond the initial month, as seems likely).

No, it’s not a surprise, but nonetheless it is really sad.

@Paddingtonthebear my DC multiskill class is outdoors year group only. The guidelines are clear they can only open if it’s primarily for childcare.

Our school hasn’t cancelled anything 🤷‍♀️

@Paddingtonthebear

Our school hasn’t cancelled anything 🤷‍♀️

Neither has ours 🤔

Probably get a last minute email tomorrow but it seems some people online involved with schools feel the guidance is vague and open to interpretation

@notevenat20

I am confused. If after school sport let's a parent stay at after 3pm is it then allowed?

Yes if it's set up as after-school provision (that happens to include sporty stuff as one of its activities)

No if it's a sports club (that just happens to be at a really convenient time to fit your working day)