Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether private (a) toddler groups, (b) singing groups and (c) other educational classes for children under the age of five can continue to take place under the new national covid-19 lockdown restrictions to be applied from 5 November 2020.

Support groups, such as for breastfeeding, postnatal, and baby and toddler groups, operating in:

• Ofsted registered settings should follow government guidance on COVID-19 for early years and childcare providers, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures.
• Community settings, such as a church hall, community centre, or other public place groups, support groups, that are essential to deliver in person, can continue with up to 15 participants where formally organised to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. This includes support to new parents and carers. These groups must be organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body and must follow COVID-19-secure guidance for the venue. This applies at all local alert levels and when national restrictions apply. Relevant guidance for when church halls are used can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july. Guidance for multi purpose community facilities can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities.

When national restrictions apply, in determining the limit of 15 participants, no account is to be taken of any child who is below the age of 5.

Informal groups, such as those organised by a parent, need to comply with the gathering and household mixing rules for the relevant local alert level, or in the case of national restrictions.