Holme Grange School hosts Living Nativity to mark start of Christmas

Year Six pupils from Holme Grange School in Wokingham, Berkshire hosted a Living Nativity for their Nursery to Year Five children on Friday, December 8 2017.

Each of the three Year Six classes acted out two half hour performances. The performance began in their Adventure Playground for the Annunciation and Herod’s meeting with the Wise Men. It then moved to the TLC Hub for a preformance of the shepherds, Jesus and Mary inquiring at the inn. It finally ended on the Show Lawn with everyone coming together for the Nativity.

There were two live sheep provided by a parent, three gorgeous camels from Warwickshire company Joseph's Amazing Camels and a very sweet donkey from Toad Hall Nursery.

To finish the troop of animals, there were also four pygmies goats who are permanent residents at school in their farm. The farm also houses two pigs, chickens, geese and bees.

Head Teacher Claire Robinson came up with the idea to use real animals and felt that it really enriched the experience for both the audience and the children.

The idea was inspired by London Zoo's living nativity which is historically attended by year two pupils. The event gave the older pupils who performed the Nativity to experience what it would have actually been like, cold, smelly and difficult and seeing the story from a whole different perspective.