Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether clause 11, Exception 5: support groups of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 applies to baby sensory classes.

Under the national restrictions, all non-essential businesses must close. These restrictions are designed to reduce the number of face-to-face contact and limit the rate of infection. This includes baby sensory classes. Under the restrictions, no person may participate in a gathering which consists of two or more people, and takes place indoors, including within a private dwelling, gyms or specialist child service centres.

However, the use of online classes and virtual support classes are a potential means to support families of young children with social contact online and serve as a basis for support for parents to provide sensory experiences at home.