Siblings barred from posing in same school photograph

For families everywhere, especially grandparents, one of the most painful aspects of the pandemic has been the agony of being separated from loved ones.

So the prospect of having a precious school photograph showing their beloved grandchildren in the same frame may have offered some comfort.

However it seems the current Covid restrictions have put paid to even that, with school photographers told they cannot take pictures of siblings sitting together, even though they live with one another.

While traditional school photographs are going ahead in most schools this term, many families have been disappointed to learn that only individual or class pictures will be permitted.

Brothers and sisters who are in different year groups will not be allowed to have their picture taken with one another, due to the way children are being kept in bubbles.

It means the classic picture adorning mantelpieces and living room walls across the country will not be available this year.

It will be especially upsetting for the families of children who have just started reception and who have an older sibling in the same school, because the first school photograph of them together marks an important milestone for so many.

While the rules may seem strange given that siblings live with one another when they are outside school, most heads took the decision that it would be too difficult to organise because of the logistics involved in moving children out of their classroom bubbles.

One school photographer said it was frustrating but schools were understandably prioritising keeping children safe and remaining open.

He said: "It is a real shame. Sibling photographs are our bread and butter and they are something parents and grandparents really look forward to receiving.

"We, as the invited party, are led by the school. It has to be their decision and unfortunately we are finding the majority are deciding it is too tricky to organise sibling photographs because it means moving children out of their classroom bubbles.

"It might seem a bit odd because siblings obviously live together, but schools are being super cautious.

"We would love to be back doing sibling photographs, but for the time being, most schools have said no. That might change later in the school year but for now most parents and grandparents will be disappointed.”

One option being offered by some firms is to use software to blend two individual images together in order to make it appear as though they are sitting together.