Robin has encouraged schools to go ahead with nativity plays this year, despite Covid. He encouraged schools to take precautions to conduct the plays safely, but said he would like to see ‘as many going forward as possible’. Some schools have cancelled plays and teaching Unions have expressed some concerns.
Robin said: ‘I want to see schools continuing to engage with parents in as constructive a way as they possibly can.
‘Of course, where they can go ahead safely, things like Nativity plays and end-of-term shows are really important and a good way of doing that. I would want to see as many going forward as possible. I think it’s good where those important traditions can be maintained that they are.
‘I understand there will be schools that feel that they have to take extra precautions and particularly when it’s about adults coming into a school... they need to be able to look at their local circumstances.
'They need to be able to work with the local directors of public health who will have a feel for the local situation. And I respect that that’s going to be different in different parts of the country.’