The temptation to show off flashy new Christmas presents in school is irresistible for children - and a headache for teachers.

Kevin Brennan, the Children’s Minister, has joined teachers in urging parents to make sure that children leave new gadgets at home, or risk them being confiscated. Some devices with sophisticated technology allow children to communicate with each other behind their teachers’ backs. Others create a cacophony of bleeps, ringtones and pop music.

New laws give teachers the right to confiscate such items if they see them in class. Mr Brennan said: “It is rightly down to schools to decide how best to deal with electronic equipment being brought in for use in the playground. But we are absolutely clear that when it comes to lessons, noisy toys are not acceptable.

“Christmas is great fun and I’m sure, as is the case in my house, children and young people from across the country will be getting a whole range of fascinating gadgets such as mobile phones and MP3 players. However, there is a time and place for them, and learning tools such as calculators aside, the classroom is not that place.

“This year, while obviously wanting every child to have a great Christmas break, we would rather that parents ensure their children do not use their gadgets in lessons and ideally don’t bring them into school at all.”

Every year teachers complain that lessons in the first days of the new term are disrupted by a few pupils who play with electronic toys, music players and phones. Mr Brennan added: “This can be a real headache for teachers when they are trying to get everyone settled down to start learning. Teachers would be grateful if pupils just brought a pen.”

The minister said parents who were not sure whether to allow their children to take electronic toys with them should ring their schools to check what was allowed.

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