Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Deferred
Paragraph: 25
The Government should produce clear and dedicated guidance for organisers of community and charity-run support...
Recommendation
The Government should produce clear and dedicated guidance for organisers of community and charity-run support groups (including parent and baby groups) on how they can safely restart and continue classes in a covid-safe way. It should work with group organisers, local authorities and other relevant sector stakeholders to develop this guidance and ensure it is widely communicated.
Government Response Summary
The government states it will continue to review the need for specific guidance for community and charity-run support groups on operating in a Covid-safe way on a case-by-case basis.
Paragraph Reference:
25
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Parent and child groups are for the benefit of children under the age of 5 years and are organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic institution, or a public body. The Government understands the importance of community support groups and parent and child groups and will continue to review the need for guidance for specific groups on operating in a Covid-safe way on a case-by-case basis. In recognition of the support needed by parents with young children, during the November 2020 national restrictions, the government introduced a gatherings exception for new parents, and excluded under-fives. When national restrictions ended on 2 December 2020, a new exception for parent and child groups was introduced. The Department for Education continues to update guidance for parent and child groups in Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak—GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This guidance is for Ofsted registered early years and childcare settings and while some providers will meet in Ofsted registered settings, not all will, and there is no single responsible body with complete oversight of these groups. Parent and child groups are a cross-government policy with different departments having an interest.