Some parents have raised concerns about school Christmas concerts/nativity plays etc being banned. This is not the case in Aberdeenshire and guidance below has been issued to schools.

• Schools can arrange indoor events for internal audience and participants i.e. staff and pupils providing the participants/audience group numbers are kept low.

• Parental/community audiences/participants of indoor events and activities are not permissible within the current guidelines.

• Parental/community audiences/participants of outdoor events and activities are currently permissible following the current guidance.

• Class/school trips to pantomimes, or visiting/touring pantomimes in schools are permissible following mitigations set out in the current guidance. Indoor audiences of school pupils and staff are permitted but head teachers should be mindful that current guidance advises against bringing together large number of unvaccinated children – so thought should be given around limiting class/year groupings.

This is based on the Scottish Government guidance. Public Health at NHS Grampian are also content.

Scottish Government advice remains that all previously agreed mitigations remain in place at present, until there is sufficient evidence that the virus is being suitably repressed.

On Friday 6 November the Evening Express reported that “North and North-east councils have barred schools from hosting live festive plays or concerts this year.”