Changing for PE in Reception class

[Dysgu]

So school began in September last year which is nearly 6 months ago. Therefore, am I right in thinking that it is pretty unusual that my DD (aged 5.5yo) has not yet had to change for PE since starting school in September?

The school has dedicated PE teachers (qualified teachers) and the class teacher has PPA time when the class has PE. But still, shouldn't they have started doing more than changing into their plimsolls by now?

I have mentioned this to the class teacher at our recent parents' meeting - I do not do the school run as we rely on a child minder so this was the first opportunity I had had to check that what DD was saying is what is happening!

But yes, up until 2 weeks ago they had never even taken their PE kits out of the bags - and then the cold weather prevented them from changing into them (the hall where they do PE is in another building and it was felt it was too cold to make them change and then walk over to the other building - maybe a 45 - 60 second stroll).

Today is PE day - I sent DD1 to school wearing a large pinafore that is too long on her but is easy for her to take off and put on by herself. She has come home this afternoon and told me that they just put on their plimsolls to go to the hall - she didn't tell me what they actually did.

Am I making a fuss to write a note to the class teacher asking about this? I thought DD1 would get to practise dressing and undressing in school - we have worked on it so much at home because of this!

FWIW - I am a teacher (Y6) in another school where our Reception children start changing for PE from the VERY beginning - so much so that the first few lessons are little more than just changing! Which school is 'right'?

[Dysgu]

bump

[AndiMac]

Coming from the opposite point of view, I don't see why such little kids should change for PE. They don't sweat much, if at all, and their uniforms are likely to get dirty during regular play as much as in PE.

Would you rather they had a full hour (just guessing at the time amount) of PE, or would you prefer that they spent at least 20 minutes changing all 30 kids?

[mrz]

Many schools don't do formal PE lessons in reception

[PrisonerOfWaugh]

I've started a similar thread before. No PE yet at our school, there were vague rumblings it would start in the spring - but nothing yet.

This despite the fact that full PE kit was requested from the start - my main bone of contentions was the fact that most of the stuff would be outgrown by the time they get around to using it

We did lots of practice for getting dressed and undressed neatly before school started (as requested). DD has recently started an after school football club (run from the school) so she is putting her skills into practice, but most aren't.

[stopthinkingsomuch]

No PE kit in primary schools in Australia.

[Sittinginthesun]

I think ds2 started changing for PE after christmas. He wears shorts and t shirts inside, but they wear uniform outside, with plimsolls.

[stopthinkingsomuch]

Well the part we were in. Each day was started with 20 mins running around the oval.

[Dysgu]

Thank you for the replies.

I will hold off on sending a note to the teacher - it is interesting to see the different things that different schools do.

AndiMac TBH I would personally prefer that they worked on getting changed and had shorted amounts of time on PE - I think Reception children are very active so I am thinking more of the personal skills rather than the physical running/moving. FWIW DD1 does trampolining club and Irish dancing out of school so she does get some practise in changing but it usually dressed ready for these activities (and we are 'available' to help).

PoW Yes I agree - we were given a list of uniform requirements for Reception - including PE t-shirt and shorts and socks and plimsolls AND a tracksuit with school logo! Tracksuit is now too small and we have already had to buy new t-shirts (and polo shirts) for this half term as she has done nothing but grow!

I had previously been told by class teacher (at parents' meeting and on Monday when I spent the afternoon in the classroom - my turn on the rota!) that they would DEFINITELY be changing from today.

[IndigoBell]

Why on earth does it matter?

Do you care more about her getting changed than her doing PE?

I totally fail to see why you care either way.

At least this way she'll lose less clothes and spend more time in PE and spend more time in the classroom.

[PrisonerOfWaugh]

Oh I would be right pissed about a logo'ed tracksuit. At least ours was just any old shorts, t-shirt and plimsolls - all pretty cheap stuff, but still a complete and utter waste if they grow out of it without wearing.

[RiversideMum]

We get ours changed for PE mainly because when they get into Y1 the teachers don't have any TAs for PE. It's amazing how many children have to be taught how to get dressed and do simple things like turning their clothes the right way round. Some children just stand in front of you with their clothes in their hands. We have 3 adults in our class to train them to get changed! - like you say, it's 20 mins max PE by the end of all that.

[stealthsquiggle]

DD changes for PE. And for swimming. The school seem to manage - they put PE towards the end of the day, so that if the DC are "interestingly" clothed when they get back into uniform (which is not easy - especially for the girls, who have kilts to contend with) it doesn't really matter.

PE kit is any navy sorts, white T shirt, plain navy tracksuit of some sort. DD's is all inherited from DS.

[BackforGood]

When teaching Reception, I've always been of the 'they need to learn to get changed for PE' school of thought like yourself, and this takes up a lot of the time in the first couple of lessons, so I think it's odd that they don't.
However, as a parent, I don't think it's something that would concern me to the extent I'd write a note or take it up with the teacher - I'd just feel sorry for the Yr1 teacher !

[AndiMac]

I would be pissed off about having to buy a bunch of uniform gear and see it get outgrown as it doesn't get used. But not about the actual lack of changing for PE.

[RueDeWakening]

I'm told (by the teacher) that DD will start getting changed for PE after Easter. Obviously we have had to provide the full school uniform PE kit from September

I suppose at least the boys got to wear their PE shorts as part of their nativity costume...

[stealthsquiggle]

That's what would annoy me, AndiMac - if they are not going to get changed, fine - but in that case, why the logoed track suit FGS? The other purpose PE kit serves (being a spare set of clothes in case of accidents) could be fulfilled much more cheaply.

One thing though, OP - if they make a habit of this, there must be lots of hardly-if-at-all worn secondhand tracksuits kicking around

[monstermissy]

My ds started off just changing into plimsoles from September. After christmas they started changing properly. I know when they have done PE. Last time he came home with his jumper on back to front and no socks :) he isn't five till the summer so one of the younger ones. They have to learn soon although i think that almost year age gap between the kids in the class is still very obvious in reception so sometimes feel for the younger ones. (or maybe its just cause ds is my last and so so teeny im a sucka for his cutie smiles :))

[Dysgu]

Thank you for the replies.

I know this is hardly a big issue in the whole scheme of things... however, I am still of a mind that changing for PE is an important skill that they need to learn and surely it makes sense to be practising when they have additional adults in the room (they have 3 adults in the room with DD1).

stealthsquiggle I would imagine there must be lots of hardly worn tracksuits; however, the school has nothing to do with second hand clothes and I know very few parents as we do not have much contact with the school on a day-to-day basis. The PTA used to hold second hand sales but they stopped that a few years back apparently - not sure why and unable to attend PTA meetings which are held at 2-3pm (but that is another thread).

So - I will not bother the teacher with a note but I will continue to think that this is something they should be doing; I will also try to get DD1 to wear trousers for PE day.

As an aside, what do Reception children DO in PE? In my own school they use the mats, do moving and rolling, get to climb on the apparatus, and play lots of 'follow instructions' games. I can't see how DD1 gets any similar opportunities if she is wearing a long pinafore dress!

[IndigoBell]

Which bit of that can't she do In a dress?

And does she have 3 adults in the room bcause of the no. of statemented kids? Is there any reason to believe she'll have less adults next year?

Seems most likely the 3rd adult is a particular childs 1:1.

[SilentBoob]

It seems like a trivial matter now, but 20 years from now we are going to have an entire generation of adults completely incapable of dressing or undressing themselves. People don't think of the big picture.

[sunnyday123]

in dds school PE starts straight away but they only start wearing the kit after xmas anbd they do tell us so we dont rush out and buy plimsoles til then. They rarely sweat - dd only brings hers home now once per term for cleaning!

[RunnyGrobbles]

If you've already taught her to get changed, why are you worried about her getting practise? Doesn't she get practise twice a day anyway?

IMO running, dancing, climbing, tumbling and all the othe things thry are doing are much more important than practise getting changed.

[RunnyGrobbles]

Sorry, I have no idea if some of the practise shoud have been practice or not.

[lemonbonbons]

Of course they should be changing for PE , the reason they do is to teach the pupils about safety and hygiene . They must get into good habits early as it is simply good practice. Doing gymnastics ( something they are likely to do at reception ) in a dress is unsafe as they will be exploring equipment Including twisting, rolling and jumping from heights.

I have taught various reception PE lessons at different schools - and all pupils have changed. I know of one school ( in a very deprived area with a huge change of pupils on role from year to year ) that simply provides the whole class with PE from reception to year 6 . The pupils then all looks the same and learnt very quickly about getting dressed alone , tying laces, washing and washing clothes - all skills unfortunately the majority of these pupils may not have been taught at home. Several incidences of suspected child abuse can also identified when a child starts changing for PE in reception . Ffor example marks on the body done purposefully where other adults won t see ( I ve seen cigarette burns on a back) , neglect ( pupils underwear dirty and very obviously unchanged for long periods of time).

From government advice from year 1 - 11 EVERY child should do a minimum of 2 hours PE in the curriculum and be doing 5 hours in total weekly through curriculum time,informal activity and OSHL and clubs. This includes the first week of term , when the school play is on , when
It is cold and so forth . This 2 hours minimum the school must provide DOES include changing time ( as getting changed is part of PE ).

To sum up the children should always change for PE . And the teacher should be adequately trained and equipped to teach good, safe , fun PE lessons. The minimum requirement for PE teacher training in primary PGCE training is 4 hours spent on PE over the year. It then becomes obvious why things are going wrong for some primary non specialist teachers - and the bare minimum is delivered to our children.