Parents and staff call for clarity over 'confusing' guidance on kids singing in nursery ahead of traditional Nativity plays

Parents and early years workers have called for a rethink over confusing guidance on kids not being allowed to sing together in nurseries leaving them in the dark over Nativity plans.

Tradition: Christmas Nativity play

It comes as the Scottish government is set to release new Covid-19 early years guidance which officials deny will ban singing in nursery settings but they say will advise against singing in groups in line with guidance already issued to primary and secondary schools in Scotland.

Nurseries say the new instructions are contradictory, telling them kids can sing as part of activities but they are not allowed to let kids sing together even in small groups outside and staff can’t "sing around or near the children."

One nursery worker from a council-run facility in Edinburgh said the advice is not practical and that pre school kids are missing out on vital learning that they get from singing and reading stories together.

Nursery staff want clarity over singing guidance

"We are finding things huge challenge just now, after being told that we should not do group singing or one big group story time. To try and play it safe we were doing singing outside in the garden but then we were told we can't do that either. And staff have been told we can't sing around or near the kids. It’s having a huge impact.

“Songs together and that social activity is a big part of their learning experience for younger kids. It has so many benefits. They want to sing together. Songs are also really important for kids who have additional support needs or English as a second language. We would usually sing transitional songs to help them understand in a way that words alone doesn’t achieve.

We can record music on the i-pad and play it back to them but it's just not the same for them, they can't see the shape of us mouthing the words, feel the timing and the rhythm. The kids are not getting the social benefits of sitting together with a friend and singing.”

She added: “We won’t be able to do Nativity now either so kids are missing out on so much of the traditional learning that they get so much from. We get kids asking why we don't sit around and do story time or songs anymore and why they are not allowed to take their artwork home and show parents, they have to adapt to so many changes just now. It's confusing for them, and for us."

Angry parent groups have called for a rethink, saying kids singing together in nurseries doesn’t present a risk of spreading the virus.

Jo Bisset of Us for Them said: "It’s clear young kids are just not at risk from covid-19, the risk is negligible. Taking away singing and that joy that is so vital in early years learning will have a big impact. Stopping kids that age singing in groups isn't possible, and will do more harm to them. It's another dystopian measure that seems not thought through, it's like a panic move.

“Stability is a vital condition for children to feel safe and we are slowly taking that away with these blunt, broad brush rules. Things are changing too much for our little ones as it is, their worlds are turned upside down. What we are doing here is asking kids to suffer the harm to protect others, when it should be the other way around. Adults need to seriously consider the voice of children in these measures. Because what we are asking of them is too much and they will not develop in the healthy way that we would want them to."

The early years campaign lead for the group Lucy Tinsdale, whose 4-year-old son attends nursery in Edinburgh, said: “We’ve heard of nurseries not allowing songs and actively stopping a child from singing even if they are just doing it on their own. Others have done risk assessments and allow singing in small bubbles. There are extreme differences and that’s just across Edinburgh. These measures are very upsetting for young children.”

The Scottish government education sub group advice published last month states that there is an increased risk from activities like singing "because of the respiratory aerosols which are exhaled during these activities and the close proximity of participants." But it also states there is a lack of evidence about the risk of singing in the transmission of COVID-19.

There have been two recorded cases of Covid-19 in nurseries in Edinburgh at council partner providers.

An Edinburgh City Council spokesperson said: “The health and safety of our young people and staff is paramount and we always follow the latest national guidance in keeping everyone safe. This is kept under constant review and we await further guidance that is expected to be published by the Scottish Government tomorrow.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “It is not true that we are banning singing in nurseries. Children sing in the course of activities and play, and should not be discouraged from doing so.

"On public health advice, and relating solely to large groups singing together at the same time, we will advise against this due to the increased risk of transmission.

“Advice from the advisory sub group on education and children’s issues, as well as guidance from Education Scotland has been published on the risks associated with PE, Music and Drama. It is important that everyone take steps wherever possible to reduce these risks.

“We will continue to engage with local authorities, unions, ADES, Care Inspectorate & sector representative bodies as we keep guidance under constant review.”

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