To think this woman is being very entitled (and it's not 'news')

[pollypocket99]

www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/10901364.School_bars_mum_from_daughter_s_first_Christmas_play/?action=success

Saw this in our local rag. I cant believe someone is bleating about this to a newspaper makes me mad!!

Plays are important to the kids yes, but in the way of it being fun and experience. We aren't worried about reviews.

I think that the staff organising it may get a little too invested in its success and lose sight of the point of it all.

Not sure if the mum was being reasonable in this case or not, but generally I think the schools could do with taking a breath and a step back over some of their rules.

Holistic

Sorry.

I suspect these rules are because of tiny children screaming, running about and ruining the children's experience of performing in a play.

I saw this. The Journal has a habit of printing stories just to fill up space.

Salisbury is a bit Barchester Towers meets Shameless.

I have two children at separate schools and younger siblings were welcome at both nativities. It's christmas - family time! A bit of baby noise is normal!

she went with her mother and someone else

what is the reason her mother couldnt have looked after the three year old?

there was a performance which accomodated those with toddlers and a performance for adults to actually enjoy the nativity without babies crying, todders running around etc

the school behaved completely appropriatley.

I may have had more sympathy if she hadn't mentioned she went along with two other adults who could well have looked after the three year old

"No siblings would mean either DH or I missing the show."

No it wouldn't, because alternative date was offered, for siblings to attend.

Usually this is done to be able to space the chairs out differently, to allow for prams.

I agree, the Nan could if took the youngest to the day time performance. Surely if she is recovering from spinal surgery, having a toddler to manage two days afterwards wouldn't be ideal anyway.

To turn up with her Mum and cause a fuss, is bizarre.

Saying her DD wouldn't perform without her younger brother there is first class PFB behaviour, the rules are the rules and apply to her children.

She had someone to care for the child and that person could have taken him to the dress rehearsal.

Yes, she is entitled and the paper is obviously very short of news.

Good for the HT for making sure all the other parents could hear their DCs Christmas play

Two performances fine. Refusing to bend the rules slightly for someone who had surgery is just silly IMO. Maybe the mother and child couldn't go to the fa,ily performance because they were worried or caring for the woman who was having surgery. Glad ds's school cares about entire families

If you start bending rules for one where do you stop?

The school made provision so everyone could see it. They had a very sensible system it seems. I assume parents were informed of that in advance. Nothing will suit everyone and there will always be people who have to miss out for whatever reason.

If she hadn't had her mother available to help with the children then I'd have said the school were being a little unreasonable but her mother should have taken the boy to the toddler performance when the woman was in hospital and then she could have gone on her own to see the play once she was out of hospital.

I think you draw the line at big events which will already be unsettling for the children. Parental hospital admission being one

Octopus what of the mother was visiting or caring for her daughter at the time

I feel for her. I took my 3 year old to my SD' Xmas show (toddlers ANC babies were banned but she's no longer a toddler). She's just had spinal surgery and that's a massive deal. She possibly couldn't stand or sit without assistance from her mum- although article doesn't mention that. She's also been through quite a traumatic time, presumably and would've treasured this time to spend with her DCs all together now that her ordeal is over. Too many rules sometimes. A little more humanity is sometimes necessary. Saying that, was it paper-worthy or right of them to complain so publicly? Nope

Good on the school and HT. Wish ours would follow suit, plenty ignored the letter and applied for dozens of tickets when it clearly stated it was limited to two per child and toddlers and babies made a noise all the way through.

What the fuck is wrong with the world today where a toddler can't be allowed access to a bloody PRIMARY SCHOOL play??

The gran wanted to see the pay too, why should she have to stay out with the toddler? Perhaps she couldn't make the dress rehearsal that was specifically for the siblings. You know...she might have busy!!

Other parents may have been busy that day. Should they be allowed in to?

The school had clear rules, very sensible rules. You only have to see the threads on here about young children being allowed to ruin school plays to know why such decisions are made

different

Because sadly some parents think it's ok for their toddler to run around climb on the stage and scream throughout the whole thing. And refuse to remove or pacify them.

Ergo, to avoid upsetting the children who have worked bloody hard and found the courage to get up and speak and sing in front of an actual audience there's a blanket ban on ONE of the performances.

I'm so pleased that my dcs school are more tolerant than this. The entire school (1000+ pupils) all managed to put on several performances & not have to exclude younger siblings from the performances.

On the whole everyone was pretty well behaved.

Gileswithachainsaw Well then, the head can ask the offending parent to leave with said toddler, why punish everyone?

Then I guess you are amongs the lucky ones who's audience , whereas not completely silent obviously, was actually respectful and well behaved.

If you take a look at other threads you will read all about children in tears after their lines have been drowned out and kids actually climbing on stage and fiddling with props and/or literally crying their eyes out the whole time.

I agree with starballbunny

Do you know Sad Face Mum, OP?

No one was punished. There was ample opportunity for everyone to see the play with kids or without.