Only adults allowed to watch the Christmas play

[Cupofteaplease]

dd has just started in the nursery unit attached to the local primary school where I used to work as a TA. I know the head is very unfriendly towards the children (he has an attitude of his Ofsted outstanding school would be perfect if it wasn't for the pesky kids!)

The latest news is that only adults and secondary aged children are allowed to attend the Christmas play, and only 2 per child (which I understand). But this means, no babies, no toddler or pre-school aged children, no primary aged children who attend another scool (such as private, or a special needs school). Is it me, or is this a little anti-family, and therefore anti-Christmas?!

I realise the reasons could be space, and crying babies may distract the children, but there are 2 performances for Foundation stage, 3 for KS1 and 3 for KS2, so space shouldn't be a HUGE issues, and it just means that it makes life tricky for some people, especially single parents, who would have to find babysitters for younger children.

I don't know why I'm letting this bother me, as dd1 is in FS so her performances are during the day when I am at uni, so it is very unlikely I will be able to go anyway , but I just feel that it is odd. Does anyone else have this at their dc's school?

cupofteaplease you just made my day, had yet another crap night with dd not sdleeping and on top of that big day at school today with being observed, so your comment has made me smile for the first time in ages.

seems most people agree there should be an opportunity for children to see the school plays. We also have the "please take them out if they get restless" speech at the beginning of our church services and it gets ignored regularly, really distracting for everyone and so selfish.

At my children's school there are usually two performances. One to bring small children too and one for adults only. Seems very fair.

I'm certainly glad that our school doesn't have this nasty rule! It's fine to take little ones but if they make a noise one of the teachers ushers you out to the reception room classroom where you can stay with them until they're quiet - and I'm quite happy with this. I am a teacher (although not working at the mo) and the school I worked at had a similar policy. I definitely would find it very unfriendly if little ones were banned...

is such a pita to take my younger kids to dd's special assemblies and things - I enjoy it much more on my own with dh if he can make it - then don't have to juggle them on my lap, worry about them shouting out or having a tantrum.

Those schools who don't allow little ones should also ask parents who chat all the way through to leave. Why, when letters go out asking parents not to bring younger children, does that letter not also say parents who cannot stay quiet will also be asked to leave.

I have 2 mums in a music class who cannot be quiet. They are literally incapable.

I gave a little speech about how in the run up to Christmas noise levels in public are worse than usual and we would have a calming piece with complete silence apart from if they wanted to quietly hum or sing along.

They lasted 24 bars and then started chatting again. They can't cope without mindless noise. Their concentration span is zero. There is a very strong probability that the children will be like that once they are older.

They will also mightily piss off other parents in years to come by talking through the school plays.