* Christmas Plays/Performances: This is a major highlight. Classes often rehearse and perform nativity plays or other Christmas-themed shows for parents and other classes. These can range from simple classroom performances to more elaborate productions.
* Christmas Crafts: Children engage in various craft activities, making decorations like Christmas cards, paper chains, reindeer, and other festive items. These are often taken home or used to decorate the classroom.
* Christmas Songs and Carols: Singing Christmas carols is a common tradition, either in class, assemblies, or during performances. Learning carols is part of the music curriculum around this time.
* Christmas Parties: Many schools host Christmas parties, often with festive food (though this can be subject to school policies around healthy eating and allergies), games, and perhaps a visit from Santa Claus (either a real person or a school-organised character).
* Christmas Jumper Day: Many schools participate in Christmas Jumper Day, a charity fundraising event where children wear festive jumpers and donate to a chosen cause.
* Christmas Dinners: Some schools might have a special Christmas dinner, although this is becoming less common due to logistical and dietary challenges.
* Christmas Tree and Decorations: Classrooms and the school hall are typically decorated with Christmas trees, tinsel, lights, and other festive decorations.
* Storytelling and Reading: Christmas-themed stories and books become a focus in literacy lessons.
* Fundraising: Schools may organize fundraising activities linked to Christmas, such as cake sales or raffles, to support school funds or charities.
The specifics will vary from school to school, depending on the headteacher's policies, the resources available, and the age of the children. Some schools may have a more heavily religious focus on the nativity story, while others may have a more secular celebration.