The under 5’s Children Activity sector, which provides invaluable educational and developmental classes every week for babies and toddlers across Scotland,  has been severely restricted since March 2020.

We were allowed to return last August and guidelines allowed us to risk assess our own space to determine capacity, like most other sectors. This was quickly revoked and we found ourselves eventually restricted to 10 adults in a baby class and 4 adults in a toddler class! 

Class providers could not simply add on more classes and many could not viably run. 

Then all under 5 classes were restricted  to 10 socially distanced adults in class followed by having to close for another lockdown extending until now.

The guidelines would suggest that even when we reach Tier 0, our numbers will still be restricted to 15.

we have adapted and changed and are exhausted. Most of us have had no government financial support as we don’t operate from our own premises and grants from local council are still non existent. We need to be able to operate consistently and get back to supporting families and babies and children who have missed out on so much. 

All other sectors have been trusted to risk assess the spaces they occupy and determine how many adults they can accommodate safely. 
We are asking for the same opportunity. Let each children’s activity provider risk assess and determine how many adults we can safely accommodate with social distancing. 

If not our businesses will not survive, our health will suffer and  Scotland’s youngest will be deprived of essential developmental classes.