Following a month of lockdown in England, tomorrow we return to our tier system, in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.
During lockdown 2, parents with very young children (under 5) were allowed to meet a friend from another household outside, when two people from two separate households got together, as the children were not counted. However, children of primary school age or above were included in the total number, so these parents were left with an either-or situation when it came to seeing their friends.
Now we are moving back to the tier system, how will ours and our children's social lives be affected?
Everyone
The big change for families is the change to the support bubbles. Previously you could only form a support bubble if you lived alone; if you were a single parent to a child under 18; or you were a full-time carer. However, from 2 December, two new groups can now form a support bubble:
- Parents or carers of a child who is under 1 on 2 December 2020
- Parents or carers of a child who is under 5 on 2 December 2020, with a disability
As before, there are limits on the number of people allowed at legal gatherings, but exceptions are in place for registered childcare, education, and supervised activities for children. This includes wraparound care, such as after-school clubs and playgroups and, whatever tier your area falls into, you can still use childcare facilities, childminders and nannies.
Decisions to restrict education or childcare are made on a case-by-case basis. You can read it in detail here but, to summarise, primary schools and childcare facilities will only close to non priority groups in the most severe circumstances (tier 4).
Variations by tier
There are some restrictions on how you may manage your childcare by region. This will affect you if you rely on informal (unpaid and unregistered) childcare. All registered childcare is covered in the section above.
Tier 1
Family and friends can continue to provide informal childcare as long as groups from different households are not more than six people. You should still keep your distance from those outside your household, unless they are part of your support bubble.
Tier 2
When it comes to socialising, it is time to dig out your thermals. If you are in tier 2, you can only meet outside and in a group of up to 6 people including people outside of your household/support bubble. This number limit includes children of any age. You can continue to meet in a group larger than 6 if you are all from the same household or support bubble.
In tier 2, you can meet in any outdoor setting, which includes a private garden.
With regards to childcare, the rules have not changed from the last time we were in tiers, and the following people can provide childcare support in private homes and gardens:
- registered childcare providers, including nannies
- people in your support bubble
- people in your
childcare bubble (this must always be between the same two households).
Friends or family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble must not visit your home - even if this is to help with childcare.
Tier 3
It's just as nippy in tier 3 as, like tier 2, you can only meet outside and in groups of up to 6 people.
However, in tier 3, you cannot meet in a private garden. You may only meet in one of the following outdoor places:
- parks, beaches, countryside and forests
- public gardens
- allotments
- heritage site grounds
- outdoor sports courts and facilities
- playgrounds
Like tier 2, the childcare rules remain unchanged, and the following people can provide childcare support in private homes and gardens:
- registered childcare providers, including nannies
- people in your support bubble
- people in your
childcare bubble (this must always be between the same two households).
Friends or family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble must not visit your home - even if this is to help with childcare.
Tier 4
Tier 4 is basically the same as the lockdown measures imposed in November. You cannot meet in a private garden. You may only meet in on your own with one other person from outside outside of your household. Children under 5 do not contribute to this number. You may meet in one the following outdoor places:
- parks, beaches, countryside and forests
- public gardens
- allotments
- heritage site grounds
- outdoor sports courts and facilities
- playgrounds
Like tier 3, the childcare rules remain unchanged, and the following people can provide childcare support in private homes and gardens:
- registered childcare providers, including nannies
- people in your support bubble
- people in your
childcare bubble (this must always be between the same two households).
Friends or family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble must not visit your home - even if this is to help with childcare.
You can find out which tier you are in and get full details of the restrictions on the government's website.