Babies and toddlers class leader makes impassioned plea on behalf of parents and families in Inverness
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The class leader of children's music sessions in Inverness has made a plea for the Scottish Government to think again about the numbers of people who can gather together.
Moo Music Highland, run by Louisa Fairley throughout the Highlands and in Inverness, has now had to cancel its sessions due to advice given by Nicola Sturgeon at her daily coronavirus briefing.
The established Moo Music sessions offer fun and educational weekly sessions that include singing, actions, sensory play and games.
Classes only started back last week, and Mrs Fairley (39) has more than 200 families who attend her classes in Inverness, Tain and Nairn.
In a Facebook post, Mrs Fairley said: "Well, in light of the response from the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon we can no longer run our Moo Music Highland classes due to limiting the numbers to five adults per household."
There are normally 25 adults in every class.
Asking for someone to explain the logic behind the decision, the post she continued: "We can go to the pub, gym and eat at restaurants our children can attend school in large numbers all day and yet we cannot run our classes which are socially distanced with all measures in place to ensure they are covid secure and that everyone is complying to all the guidance.
"Our classes are linked to Curriculum for Excellence and are hugely valuable for the development of the children who range from 0-5 years and the mental well being of their parents – not to mention the huge bonding that it promotes.
"Running Classes on these restricted numbers is not at all financially viable."
She continued: "Children in these early years are developing and learning at an incredible rate. I worry about the long term effects on their development as do the parents attending my classes. "Some babies born in lockdown had never seen another baby!
"These people are members of society who are clearly crying out for these classes.
"I saw clear evidence of this when I opened up again with classes reduced in numbers selling out within minutes.
"These people are not interested in socialising at the pub they are interested in meeting new mothers, fathers and carers who are at the same stage of life as them.
"It’s hugely important to form friendships, and support and I really feel so saddened that this seems to have been completely overlooked."
