Molly Kingsley, the co-founder of the parent campaign group UsForThem, said families were “heartbroken” that children’s “rites of passage are being denied”.

She said: “We are definitely seeing a pattern of Christmas activities, trips, fairs and parties being cancelled. We are doing this at a time when adults have got their lives back.

“Children are being robbed of their life-defining moments, and it has moved beyond unfair – it is cruel. This has gone on for far too long. If this is learning to live with Covid, it does not bode well for children.”

Copford Primary School’s parent teacher association has cancelled its Christmas fair, saying the decision had been taken “with Covid-19 levels still very high in the area”.

St Peter’s Catholic School, in Guildford, and Geddington Church of England Primary School, in Northamptonshire, have also cancelled their Christmas fairs.  

One mother, whose son’s school, Beckers Green Primary, in Essex, axed its fair due to rising numbers of Covid cases in the area and has banned parents from attending its nativity play, said it was “upsetting”.

“There are so many events still happening – pantomimes, Christmas markets all over the place – and it just seems to be that the kids are getting penalised all the time,” she said.

Earlier this week, the Government updated official guidance to give local public health directors new powers to bypass Whitehall and introduce tougher restrictions on children.

The changes mean regional public health officials can impose masks on secondary school pupils without the move being sanctioned by Downing Street. Previously, local authorities needed the Government’s sign off before introducing new Covid restrictions in schools.