Young children 'in nativity ban'

A Shropshire headteacher has banned primary school age children from watching their siblings in the Christmas concert because they make too much noise and breach health and safety rules, a mother claimed today.

Moira Ellerker from Priorslee, Telford, said her two youngest children had been barred from seeing their two sisters perform at Red Hill Primary School in Priorslee.

This is due to the new rules, which were revealed in a letter to parents. Mrs Ellerker said her husband works in Geneva, Switzerland, and she has no family to leave her youngest children - Alyssa, two, and 10-month-old Arabella - with.

The 29-year-old said her eldest children, Francesca, seven, and five-year-old Colette, are devastated by the ban.

The letter from Jenny Noel-Storr, Red Hill headteacher, said no children under secondary school age would be admitted to the evening concert, including babies and children.

The notice stated a babysitting service would be provided for primary school age children, while anybody with pre-school children could watch the rehearsal.

Mrs Ellerker was told she could go to the afternoon rehearsal, but said she wanted to support her children at the official performance with all the other parents as it was such a big night.

In the letter, the headteacher said: "I am sorry if we seem to be restrictive, but health and safety regulations and risk assessments are now very much a part of school life, to the extent it is the first thing Ofsted looks for."

Youngsters who attend Red Hill will watch the performance during school hours, but children of the same age who attend other schools or are pre-school age will not get to watch the official performances.

Laura Taylor, Telford & Wrekin Council spokeswoman, said tickets were limited so parents did not miss out on their child's special moment.

"We do, however, realise this is an important milestone for all the family, which is why we have two performances," she said.

By Kirsty Marston