to think that the school should be reorganising some of tomorrow's activities?

[JackSparrow]

There's a whole school dress up day tomorrow. Lovely.

I have just had an email to say that the children will be spending large parts of the day outside tomorrow with no shade or shelter, so need to remember the suncream and water bottles.

AIBU to expect, given the predicted temperatures for tomorrow (am in SE) that amendments might be made to the plans? It is not sensible to keep children outside, with no shade, throughout the hottest parts of the day when temperatures will be soaring.

And yes, I know there are hotter places in the world. And that children live there, and go to school, and everyhting. I was one of them. And we didn't ever spend hours on end outside with no shade or shelter (let alone in fancy dress).

[flora717]

YANBU I used to re-enact (in velvet and wool occasionally). Generally in hot weather the 'casualties' were members of the public because as performers we took breaks from the sun, stayed hydrated and sought shade as much as possible. Not because we just learned to handle it!

[lalsy]

OP, I would be concerned too - it doesn't sound like fun, apart from anything else. Public Health England has published clear advice www.gov.uk/government/news/heatwave-conditions-forecast, which this goes against (never mind the issue of fancy dress!), so I would point that out to the school. If I were in charge of hundreds of children in a heatwave, I would want to follow the official advice I think, to protect them, and myself. I know it wasn't always thus - but we are much more aware of the dangers of the sun now. And anyway, some schools did adopt good practice even then - we were allowed to stay indoors and sleep at lunchtime in that heatwave in the 70s .

[MrsHathaway]

Pfb (7) is going to a multi sports festival tomorrow, predicted 29 degrees. I have similar reservations.

[CoogerAndDark]

YANBU. They will need shade as well as suncream and water.

[ollieplimsoles]

Oh the poor things... I really feel for them. I remember our 'roman day' at school. We were all outside, all day long, in the boiling sun, wearing bits of cloth and sandals... Grim day.

I think its very irresponsible of the school to have them outside all day like that, what is the theme of the dress up op?

[AuntyMag10]

Yanbu, tomorrow especially is going to be a scorcher and would be a bad idea to have this event.

[PandasRock]

I have emailed the school outlining my concerns. Oddly no reply

It just isn't good enough. It is time schools got up to speed on sun protection. It is bad enough that the children are barely given enough time to apply sunscreen before being expected to spend 2 hours on the games field, but to state outright that they will be outdoors all day, when a heatwave has been forecast for over a week, directly contravening health advice is just bonkers.

[chickenfuckingpox]

its my sons sports day they say dont worry just send them in with suncream and a hat we will make sure they drink! yes this is why my son came home with a dehydration headache last thursday im predicting he will faint tomorrow

[JackSparrow]

It's it ridiculous.

I'm betting that none of the teachers would willingly have their children spend the day in those sorts,of temperatures, with inadequate shade, and badly applied sunscreen while on holiday in the sun. So why make my (and their) children do it during school time?

[cashewnutty]

Sometimes living in Scotland has its plus points! Weather and temperature is perfect here right now. I wish it would stay like this all summer.

[SirNiallDementia]

YANBU, the school has to amend their plans if it is too hot.

DS came home with a letter today saying today and whilst the heat lasts the kids will spend only 20 mins outside and have the rest of their playtime inside. And reminded us to bring in hats, cream etc.

[maddy68]

The teachers will be with them in the sun so they will be able to make judgements Provided that they have lots of water and sun screen I fail to see the problem?

[SideOrderofChips]

Considering the fact it hit 33oC here in Jersey today and it was a normal day yabu.

We just have to make sure that the kids have hats, sunscreen and water bottles

[PandasRock]

Sunscreen is not the be all and end all when it comes to sun protection/heat protection. It falls a long way short, especially when said sunscreen is being applied by a young child (and therefore missing large parts in all likelihood).

There is no reason for them all to be outside for large parts of the day. It is standard advice not to be, on the lifestyle of hot days, let alone when temperatures are predicted to be as high as they will be tomorrow.
The teachers could make those judgements now, given that we already know what the weather will be. Rather than sticking to 'put sunscreen on, have water, we're outside all day' which is plain unacceptable (not to mention stupid).

[littleshorty]

Maddy the problem with 5 and 6 year olds applying sun cream is that they don't do a very good job. Some of the reception children are only 4 and not able to rub cream in properly and teachers are not allowed to help and wouldn't have time anyway.

[littleshorty]

And even with a thick layer of factor 50 nobody should be in direct sun at the hottest parts of the day especially not for long periods and especially not little kids

[JackSparrow]

Sideorderofchips - no, we don't just have to make sure they have water and sunscreen. We could actually wise up, and stop making silly plans to spend large parts of the day outside in soaring temperatures. As I said in my original post, I grew up going to school in temperatures regularly higher than those predicted tomorrow. Not once did we spend large parts of the day outside with little shade. It just isn't sensible.

[JassyRadlett]

Maddy the problem with 5 and 6 year olds applying sun cream is that they don't do a very good job. Some of the reception children are only 4 and not able to rub cream in properly and teachers are not allowed to help and wouldn't have time anyway.

Studies have shown that most adults don't do an adequate job, let alone kids. Spread too thin, miss patches.

And British clothes usually have rubbish UV protection - but that's a wider issue rather than heatwave-related.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Yanbu. Our school has modified events this week.

[JackSparrow]

Yep, and the above points prove exactly why schools should be rethinking on lots of fronts.

Latest news from the school - children will change into shorts/tshirt as it will be too hot. Rightio. That's really sensible. Keep,them outside, in he middle of the day, with less clothes coverage, rather than moving them inside.

It beggars belief.

[capsium]

If all else fails, have a parasol/large umbrella as part of the costume!

[haveabreakhaveakitkat]

Bloody ridiculous, uncomfortable and dangerous. YANBU, op

I'd be inclined to keep him home.

[SillyStuffBiting]

We really are a nation of moans.