Boys, 7, punished for playing soldiers after teachers brand making pistol shapes with their fingers 'unacceptable'

Teachers reprimanded two seven-year-old boys for playing army games - because it amounted to 'threatening behaviour'.

The youngsters were disciplined after they were spotted making gun-shapes with their hands.



Staff at Nathaniel Newton Infant School in Nuneaton, Warks., even told the boys' parents to 'reprimand' them.



A father of one of the boys said: 'This is ridiculous. How can you tell a seven-year-old boy he cannot play guns and armies with his friends.

Family groups and parents say children have been playing at soldiers for generations

'Another parent was called over for the same reason.



'We were told to reprimand our son for this and to tell him he cannot play "guns" anymore.

Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones branded the ruling 'political correctness gone mad'

'The teacher said the boys should be reprimanded for threatening behaviour which would not be tolerated at the school.



'It's ridiculous.'



Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones branded the ruling 'political correctness gone mad'.



He said: 'It is quite apparent that the seven-year-olds would be playing an innocent game.



'This is political correctness gone mad.



'When I was that age that type of game was common place and I don't remember anyone coming to any harm from it.'



Yesterday the 180-pupil school, rated 'good' by Ofsted inspectors last year, defended their decision, saying the gun 'hand gestures' were 'unacceptable'.



A spokesman said: 'Far from stopping children from playing we actively encourage it, however a judgement call has to be made if playing turns into unacceptable behaviour.



'The issue here was about hand gestures being made in the shape of a gun towards members of staff which is understandably unacceptable, particularly in the classroom.'



Margaret Morrissey, founder of family lobby group Parents Outloud told the Daily Telegraph the decision to tell the children off was 'madness' and said young boys have played these kind of games for years.



She said it was important for children to be encouraged to take a few risks as part of growing up.



It is not the first instance of teachers wading in to crack down on traditional playground games.



As well as the well documented concerns about the dangers of playing conkers, in 2007 youngsters at Bracebridge Heath Primary School near Lincoln were told there would be no kiss-chase, and even linking arms with each other was not allowed.

