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Schools say "bah humbug!" to new rules on Santa

Dec 11 2011 by Nicola Weatherall, Sunday Sun

SITTING on Father Christmas’ knee to tell him your gift wish list is one of the fondest memories many people have of their childhood.

But some education officials have turned into Scrooge by suggesting schools in our region might have to stop Santa coming into contact with pupils.

It is no longer a requirement for those playing the role of Santa Claus to pass a Criminal Records Bureau check.

As CRB checks are required only by volunteers who have regular contact with children, Father Christmas is exempt.

However, government guidance states: “Under no circumstances must a volunteer who has not obtained a CRB disclosure... be left unsupervised with children.”

A spokesman for the Department for Education added that children could only sit on Father Christmas’ knee if all the parents were consulted beforehand and were “completely comfortable” with the situation.

Schools in the North, however, have said “bah humbug!” to the new rules and applied common sense to make sure their Christmas celebrations are not spoiled.

Beccy Earnshaw, chair of Schools North East, a network of the region’s primary, secondary and special schools, said: “I haven’t heard of any schools cancelling Christmas because of this guidance.