Are U5's counted in rule of 6 - is a small party acceptable?

[B3CKY3]

My daughters 4th birthday is early April and I was thinking of inviting 3 or 4 of her preschool friends to play in our garden for an hour. I'm intending on saying drop off only and no other parents to stay or we break the household rule of 2. How would other parents feel about this if you received an invite? I believe under 5's don't count so I'm hoping a few 4yr olds playing outside only would be ok? If it's bad weather it won't go ahead and there will be no blowing candles out either. Thoughts please?

On a practical level, if they are all in the same bubble interacting every week at preschool, yes, I would be fine with it assuming it wasn't breaking current restrictions (I have no idea if under 5's count, I assume they do). But really parties where parents drop and run don't typically start until primary school and I've never had a parent be comfortable not to stay at that age. I would assume if in preschool, most will still be 3, some 4. Could you arrange something at the playground where you all happen to meet at a certain time? Parents could stay socially distanced and there would be more space for everyone rather than being crammed in the garden.

Can’t you just have 2 friends with one parent each... then you’ll be adhering to the rule of six with you and DD.

I'd be OK with this if I knew the child's parents.

4 kids interacting means potentially mixing virus amongst 4 families. And as we all know, kids are little asymptomatic COVID spreaders.
I'd wait until this is under control.

I'd do it and not give it a second thought!

I personally think fine if they are all in preschool together anyway. However I think dropping off 3/4 year olds is not that easy will involve congestion with parents arriving at same time, kids not wanting them to go etc etc. To be honest at 4 I'd probably just leave it and either let them have a proper party in summer or a big one when they are 5.

This is what we did with our son who is 5 in April but the poor thing light not get a 5th party either at this rate