Nativity plays should go ahead, says minister
Schools urged not to cancel festive events provided the important tradition for children can be held safely
‘Nativity plays and end-of-term shows are really important. I would want to see as many going forward as possible’
‘Those who make these decisions are underestimating the emotional importance. We are prepared to take the risk’
NATIVITY plays are an “important tradition” and should go ahead where possible, the schools minister has said.
Robin Walker said that as long as they can take place safely, nativity plays and other end-of-term shows should run as planned.
His comments come as schools around the country have started to cancel Christmas fairs and other events amid concern about Covid cases. Some have put children back into bubbles, with classes putting on small-scale shows instead of larger productions.
Many schools have banned parents from attending and told them they can instead watch video recordings.
One teaching union blamed the decision to cancel nativity plays in some schools on the mismatched advice coming from local authorities and Whitehall, saying they are “caught between a rock and a hard place”.
Meanwhile the National Education Union (NEU) said that it does not have an official stance on end-of-term events, but stressed that it supports head teachers to make whatever decision is best for their schools.
Dr Mary Bousted, the union’s joint general secretary, said: “Everyone wants to have a nice Christmas and endof-term events but if you have 20 staff off with Covid and an outbreak, it wouldn’t seem sensible to put on a packed Christmas play which would be a super-spreading event.”
While the vaccine has made a “huge difference”, teachers are in a “unique” position because they are working in a “crowded building full of unvaccinated children” and the potential health ramifications of long Covid remain a concern, she added
Mr Walker said: “I want to see schools continuing to engage with parents in as constructive a way as they possibly can.
“Of course, where they can go ahead safely, things like nativity plays and end-of-term shows are really important and a good way of doing that. I would want to see as many going forward as possible.”
When asked whether it was wrong for schools to axe in-person nativity plays and festive events, Mr Walker said: “I think it’s good, where those important traditions can be maintained, that they are.”
But he added: “Of course, I understand there will be schools that feel that they have to take extra precautions and particularly when it’s about adults coming into a school and they need to be able to look at their local circumstances.
“They need to be able to work with the local directors of public health who will have a feel for the local situation. And I respect that that’s going to be different in different parts of the country.”
At Whitmore Primary School in Essex, class nativity plays will be recorded for families to watch remotely.
Parklands Primary School in Leeds will be live-streaming its Christmas concerts rather than filling up the school hall with family members.
At Wyke Regis Primary Federation in Dorset, all Christmas activities will be “limited to in-school only and will be shared online with parents”.
Cranborne Primary School in Hertfordshire has told parents they can only watch the nativity play remotely, too.
Peter Hobson, whose grandson’s school in Stratford-upon-avon, is not allowing family to watch, said: “Those who make these decisions are underestimating the emotional importance. My wife and I would definitely go ... even though we’re in a vulnerable age group, we’re prepared to take the risk.”
James Bowen, director of policy for the National Association of Head Teachers, said there is “nothing schools want more” than to invite families to come and watch a festive show.
“However, schools have so many things to balance when deciding what to do this year,” he said.
“They are dealing with varying advice from their local authorities, central government advice, and a wide range of parent opinions – they really are caught between a rock and a hard place.
“Schools will be listening carefully to the advice being given by the public health teams and local authorities and putting the appropriate measures in place based on that advice.
“Where this means parents are unable to attend, we already know that many schools are already exploring other options so that families get some form of a ‘nativity experience’.
“Everyone will be hoping that this is the last year where restrictions will be necessary.”