Would you ask the teacher?

[FluentAmberScroller]

My daughter is in Year 2 and has said she’d love a speaking role in this year’s Christmas nativity, especially as it’s her last one.

She’s naturally quite shy speaking in front of big groups, so I think it would be a lovely confidence boost for her.

Would you mention it to her teacher or leave it up to them to allocate the parts? I don’t want to be an overly involved parent, but I also want to encourage her to do something she’s excited about. What would you do?

Yes, mention it. Nothing to lose.
If the school is any good they will try to give at least 1 line to any y2 who wants to speak.

Most schools will only give a speaking role to a child who wants one, so your daughter should mention it to her teacher.

In the past we've had parents try and push for their child to have a speaking part, when their child really doesn't want one.

I would leave it up to the teacher.

I always say that it's worth speaking to the teacher about persistent friendship problems or concerns about a child's learning but this is the sort of thing to leave to the school.

IME teachers will ask the class who wants a speaking role themselves, without guaranteeing it. They really don’t need every parent in the class coming to them to specify whether their child does or doesn’t want a speaking role.

I agree with the previous poster if your child wishes to speak in the play she needs to tell her teacher she would like a speaking part.

Parents asking on their children's behalf are in my experience often doing so because they want their child to have a line or two rather than because their child wants a speaking part.

It is up to your child to ask the teacher not you

Yes, I would. If she's shy the teacher might assume she'd be happier with a non speaking part.

I'd frame it as just letting them know because it's out of character, but she'd really love the chance to do this before she leaves.

Definitely get your daughter to tell her teacher she would like a speaking role if possible. As others have said, if you ask they might think it's you who wants it, not her. Even if they check in with her, they might worry that if she's too shy to ask she'll be too shy to actually perform with everyone watching.