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Original poster

How early do I need to be for school nativity?

88 replies

MondayImInLove · 12/12/2018 19:13

Tomorrow is going to be my first school nativity show starring my DT, both in the same reception class.
The show is their class only (30 children) and scheduled at 2:30pm.
How early do you think I should be to be guaranteed a front row seat? I have the day off work (this is how important this is to me!) so can be there anytime. I was thinking 2pm but shall I make it earlier??
Please please give me your advice!
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Littlebird88 · 12/12/2018 20:41

ours was was a nightmare this year. the doors open 5 mins before and 250 patents stampede towards the front but the doors are at the side so it's a stumbling stampede!
some had reserved signs on for parents who know staff!!!
my rule is to be relaxed and not worry about the front

Menolly · 12/12/2018 20:43

about half an hour but be prepared for the front row to be taken by staff, school governors, PTA and parents who have helped out.

@InDubiousBattle 30 minutes to an hour tops, generally it will be finished in time to get children changed and out for normal home time because of siblings.

piefacedClique · 12/12/2018 20:43

I’ve always offered to be there to set up the teas and coffee well before the start of the event (you then put your bags and coats exactly where you want them as soon as you arrive).

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Original poster
MondayImInLove · 12/12/2018 20:48

Thanks for the tip NotExactlyHappyToHelp and everybody else of course!

It is only one Reception’s class show, not a full school one, so 30 kids. Will governors, PTA etc really be interested??

From your answers I am thinking a good hour early is a good bet... I have a feeling I’ll be on my own for a while and everybody will arrive 15min before 😅 but it is worth it.
DD usually freezes on stage looking at the audience until she sees me hence wanting to be front.

OP posts:
llangennith · 12/12/2018 20:48

Our nativities start at 1.30. Parents start queuing at 12.30.
If you miss the front tow go to the back row so you can stand up if you need to.

Original poster
MondayImInLove · 12/12/2018 20:48

I’m not even sure there will be tea/coffee!

OP posts:
HexagonalBattenburg · 12/12/2018 20:59

I'm a governor AND on the fecking PTA committee and I don't get a reserved seat! I get to queue like everyone else and caught by the office staff with a pile of paperwork for me on the way in the door.

Think I picked the wrong school!

Scotinoz · 12/12/2018 21:13

I'm pta too, and the reservations extended to one heavily pregnant mum!

Dietcoke131 · 12/12/2018 21:16

Eugh I wish I’d have seen this conversation earlier.. I’m a first timer and thought 20 mins early would be sufficient for a good seat.... no absolutely not... back row!!! 😩

piefacedClique · 12/12/2018 21:53

We don’t have set reserved seats for PTA.... just the people who get there early to set up putting their bags and coats on seats rather than keeping them behind the coffee and cakes x

llangennith · 12/12/2018 21:54

Help the pta with the pre concert teas and coffees... you can always bag the best seats then!

You have preconcert refreshments?! Not in our smallish primary school of 300 kids. A headmistress who doesn't like kids or parents and hates that she has to endure parents in the school.
At one our events which is for grandparents only the refreshments offered are Welsh cakes and a nice cup of...orange squash. Can't have hot drinks. Health&Safety. I'm on PTA and it drives us nuts.

PoptartPoptart · 12/12/2018 21:59

If it’s only 30 children performing then there won’t be hundreds of parents (unlike our school where all three Reception classes perform together, so 90 children!)
Each row will probably have about 15 seats (depending on the size of the hall) so I reckon about half an hour beforehand should be ok

Kitsandkids · 12/12/2018 22:22

Is ours the only school that opens the doors at the start time of the show and never before? Parents rock up a couple of minutes early, mill about in the Reception area, don’t queue but all still manage to find seats. Quite a few people turn up late too.

TulipsInbloom1 · 12/12/2018 22:26

Back row is great as you can stand.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 12/12/2018 22:34

The don't open the hall door for either Rec or KS1 until 15 minutes before at our school so 30 minutes would ge enough. I've always had a baby or toddler in tow (& only occasionally another adult) so I'm always after the back row so I can stand if I want or beat a hasty retreat, as pp mentioned.

Believeitornot · 12/12/2018 22:37

Our school only reserves for PTA who specifically help. Not general PTA

Wooooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhh · 12/12/2018 22:40

Half hour for ours. It’s reception only so not too busy.

HexagonalBattenburg · 13/12/2018 07:47

Ours bungs the tea and coffee urns out and a donation box for whatever charity we're supporting that year and leaves parents to get on with the coffee and tea thing themselves basically.

Ours are down at starting at 9.15 - however in reality most people do school drop off at 8.45 and just hang around in some kind of queue/chit chat arrangement and get let into the hall about 9am. The only reason they wait till 9.15 to start is to let parents who have to do the double-school run up to the juniors get back down to school after that. The afternoon ones are like 2pm and we got down there at 1.30 (mainly to get parked) and got a seat no problem - DH is very tall so always goes for a chair right at the end of a row so he can pull it across to the side and not block anyone's view so he's a picky bugger about where he sits.

We had either pre or post-concert mince pies as well as tea and coffee (depends if it's an AM or PM one as to which option they go for)! Our school's very keen on involving parents and family members though - unlike my kids' old school where the Head delayed the entire Christmas performance for 40 minutes as a stand off until a parent moved their car from the carpark! She hated parents with an absolute passion and made it so unpleasant to be in school to keep them away (she's gone now thankfully)!

Nat6999 · 13/12/2018 08:17

If it's anything like the primary school my DS went to, get there as early as you can before the alpha ( arsehole) mum's start laying across the seats they are saving for their little gang

thismeansnothing · 13/12/2018 08:19

Wow, so just my daughters school where they on,y let parents in fifteen mins before the start 😂 all done in 40 mins too s not a mammoth play

Heyjudas · 13/12/2018 08:23

Aw, I miss my years of nativity plays. Enjoy OP. Hope you get the best seat in the house and that your twins break a leg.

Hoppinggreen · 13/12/2018 08:25

I’m PTA Chair
We do serve refreshments and then I usually slip in by the door so get a good view
My Mum is coming this year ( she can have my ticket as I don’t need it) and she’s in a wheelchair so she has a reserved spot and I’ve got a reserved chair next to her and my sdad.
Quite a few of our volunteers bag a front row seat with their coat and then come and serve drinks before sauntering up to the from just before it starts. Perk of the job

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 13/12/2018 08:33

Ive been there very early

Ive helped and reserved a seat

And I've been at the back so i can stand up

What ever works

Ive some cracking photos of a very pissed off 5 year old who was furious that mummy was sat in the front row and taking photos of him...so bear in mind it might backfire Grin

thebigmaniswatching · 13/12/2018 08:42

Ours was yesterday, 230 start and we were there at 2. We got decent seats but not front row! It finished at about 315 so they all had time to change before the normal 330 finish.

There’s another performance tonight and I’m expecting that to be a bit more of a blood bath!!Grin

GreenTeacup · 13/12/2018 09:27

One of those mums Grin

Go last minute, there is never any chairs left and you get to stand at the side or back. Reception age the plays are around 20 minutes.