Siblings banned from Nativity plays.

[shawkeye]

My daughters school advised that there will be 4 tickets only per family for the nativity play. Which would have meant that myself, her father and two siblings could attend. However, I was told today that the tickets are only for parents and grandparents and my older children; aged 11 and 12 years, are unable to attend. I was told, that this was due to fire regulations. Has anyone had any experience with this and can offer some insight, into, if siblings can be banned.
Many thanks,

I do not understand the fire regs thing at all.

I am very glad that neither of my dcs schools bans siblings - in each school there is one (fairly ramshackle!) production and everyone crowds in - they are both lovely.

DS1's school produces a DVD of the Christmas plays which parents can buy, which I guess gets around the issue of parent unable to go because of childcare / work commitments.

Assuming the parents are willing and able to fork out £15 for the DVD.

fire regs will only allow a given amount of people in hall which is fair enough.
But why not older siblings? i would ask school.
Think its great that younger siblings are discouraged. some parents used to insist on staying in room with a squawking baby/toddler, not fair on the performers

Have they banned all siblings? All children? All children or siblings in a certain age range? I don't quite follow.

I don't understand why this is an issue, as presumably most siblings capable of sitting through a performance will be in school or college anyway.
The rule is probably to discourage parents from bringing noisy toddlers along.

Our's has two showings. (Primary school). One in the afternoon and the second on the following day in the evening. Two tickets per showing per family. As we work during the day we give the first lot of tickets to grandparents, second lot we use ourselves at the evening showing. No pre school or secondary children allowed so our two older children will be at home while we go off to watch DD, they would love to see their sister but have to wait and watch the DVD.

Who told you no siblings? It clearly doesn't say that on letter with tickets as you say you found out today. I would turn up with older kids and just enter normally. If anything is said just say it fidnt say no kids on the tickets. I can't see them turning you away if you are 4 over 11s with 4 tickets.

I do 2 schools thanks to my lovely hopeless council.

My primary has 2 performance only 1 in day at 2.15 so 1 of my kids aged 6 is in her schools.

Eldest got to watch her brother in day performance during day as juniors don't do nativity but they watch infants perform.

They also have an evening one at 6.30.

It's in church next door no tickets required no children or siblings banned.

2nd school a large infants.

Juniors don't get to see as separate school so if my year 5 was in linked junior tough.

2 tickets only no entry unless ticket.

All 3 performances day time.
Rehearsal only one where pre kids are welcome.

thur is sold out adults only
wed managed get 2 tickets but hubby cannot make it so just me a s my 4 year old .

its also in a very large church next to the school .

The latter is a very child unfriendly school.

screw the juniors who used to attend
Single parents
Parents who work
People who cannot get childcare.

They did 1 festive event other week. Y 6 year old banned from attending as had bring siblings with me.

Our primary does 1 infants performance in the day, and one day time and one evening performance for juniors.

They feel that an evening performance would be too much / late for the infants and I think they are probably right.

They have problems anyway getting all the juniors to come back for the evening performance. Many parents seem to take the view that their child is 'only in the chorus' and don't bother. I've been to one performance where the chorus was only about half that of the daytime. They now ask people to confirm up front they can be present for evening show before they cast.

The idea that different ages count for different amounts for fire regulations is ridiculous.

However, schools often do need some kind of controls - the one saying ore-schoolers can't come is normal....and isn't to spoil the family atmosphere or to create childcare difficulties - it is to allow the small children who have worked hard the best and quietest opportunities to deliver their lines, so everyone can hear.

The regulations on ticket issue really will be to benefit the children in the play - the school put it on primarily for their benefit, not actually for the parents etc, although of course they know that families enjoy the event immensely.

Rather than all the suggestions to go and question the head, demanding answers, or to ignore the rules and take children of any age, just go with what the school asks.