Youngsters put on a show while parents stay home

Little ones have been donning their finest tinsel and tea towels as they put on sparkling festive shows.

Keen to make sure this Christmas is as magical as ever for pupils, primary school teachers have gone to extra efforts to make sure the traditional festivities go ahead despite the pandemic. As coronavirus restrictions prohibit families from packing into assembly halls, many schools across Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Faversham have opted to instead film their festive performances for parents to enjoy at home.

At St Alphege CE Infant School and Sunbeams Nursery in Whitstable, youngsters put on a nativity play featuring a mixture of songs pulled together to tell the Christmas story.

Elsewhere in the town, Joy Lane Primary School’s three Reception classes also performed nativity plays. At Pilgrims’ Way Primary School in Canterbury, children enjoyed tucking into a traditional Christmas lunch while wearing festive jumpers. Meanwhile, Reception pupils put on a nativity that was filmed and shared with the school community.

At Briary Primary School in Herne Bay, Reception classes performed a concert that was filmed and sent out to parents. Children also enjoyed a Christmas lunch in separate bubbles, along with a visit from Rudolph.

Selling CEP School near Faversham threw a Christmas jumper day, while youngsters from Reception to Year 4 also visited Santa’s grotto in the school grounds.

There, they posted letters to Father Christmas, made reindeer food, and received gifts from Santa and his elf.

Year 1 and 2 pupils at St Alphege CE Infant School in Whitstable

A King among pupils at Pilgrims’ Way

A happy donkey at St Alphege Infants in A flock of sheep at Joy Lane in Whitstable Whitstable

Reception pupils at Briary Primary School in Herne Bay filmed a concert that was sent home to parents

Three little Santas at Sunbeams Nursery in Whitstable

Year 1 pupil Victoria at Pilgrims’ Way’s Christmas dinner/jumper day

Pupils in each of Joy Lane’s three Reception classes performed a Nativity

A Reception class pupil as Mary at Pilgrims’ Way in Canterbury

Big smiles during the Christmas production at Sunbeams Nursery in Whitstable

Angelic faces at St Alphege Infants in Whitstable

Reception class and Year 1 at Selling School’s Christmas jumper day

A Reception class pupil shining bright at Pilgrims’ Way

It’s a baby! Mary and Joseph at St Alphege Infants

The star of the show at Briary Primary in Herne Bay

Happy faces at Briary Primary in Herne Bay

Playing Mary and Joseph at Joy Lane