Can school sports days and proms still go ahead under lockdown rules?
Sign up to the M.E.N. 's Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kids Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice  Schools have been given advice on whether sports days and proms can still go ahead this summer. With rules over events and gatherings remaining in place until at least July 19, many school and college leaders now have to work out what realistically can and cannot go ahead. To help them with that decision-making, the Department for Education has been offering settings some guidance. Schools Week reports that an email has been sent to schools, setting out the government's position on common activities and advising them 'to risk assess and plan activities in line with the system of controls'. READ MORE: Schools in every area of Greater Manchester hit by Covid  (Image: Manchester Family)  It makes it clear that sports days can go ahead, but 'pupils and students must remain in their bubbles, and early years children should remain in their consistent groups as is usual for your setting'. And it's good news for parents keen to watch from the sidelines too, as while 'spectators must adhere to current social distancing requirements', multiple groups are permitted in groups of up to 30. Sign up to our Manchester Family newsletter Keep up to date with the biggest and best stories, including suggestions for family days out and ways to keep the kids entertained. It's completely free to sign up; all you have to do is fill in your details at the top of any 'Family & Kids' story, including this one. Alternatively you can sign up here. The advice won't however necessarily be followed by all schools and the M.E.N's Manchester Family is already hearing of sports days either being called off altogether, or going ahead without spectators - with the promise that photos or videos will be sent to parents instead. And it's not good news for proms or other events like open days and transition days either, much to the despair of parents who have already splashed out on those all-important outfits. Let us know in the comments here, or share your views on our Manchester Family Facebook page here. (Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)      Schools have been told they should 'avoid hosting large group gatherings indoors for more than one bubble', such as assemblies, but outdoor events are 'generally lower risk'. The DfE says schools 'may consider' an outdoor event for a prom or leavers celebration that caters for more than one bubble 'as long as the groups continue to be kept separate' and once again groups are bound by the legal gathering limit of 30. It's the second year running that pupils and their families have missed out on such events as last summer only key worker and vulnerable children were attending schools at the end of the academic year.