What is your school's policy on wearing of coats at playtime?

[northender]

I'm asking because my dc's school are now enforcing an Oct-March policy that coats must be worn and zipped/fastened at all break times. The dc came home complaining about it and I assumed the story was being exaggerated due to hysteria being whipped up amongst the children.
I went to the office to clarify the situation this morning it transpired the dc were not exaggerating.
Do your dc's schools have similar policies or is there some discretion?

[NameChangeEx]

There is some discretion in my children's school. It can be unseasonably warm at times from Oct - Sep. It is down to the teachers/teaching assistants on the day whether they decide coats need to be worn at break times.

But when they are worn, they have to be zipped up or fastened, especially the younger ones which I agree with. When I was working in a school, the children likes to play batman with their coats and the amount of accidents it caused was a nightmare.

[northender]

Not sure of the history to this. Ds (Y6) tells me it is because a parent complained their child had got cold at lunch play. School say it has always been the policy which it may well have been but just not so stringently enforced in the past. I can quite believe that the change in enforcement is due to a complaint as the head teacher is quite reactive and risk averse.
I can see the need for this certainly in infants, but with discretion regarding the outside temperature/weather conditions. However my dc are in juniors, very active at playtimes, so get hot and need to take their coats off but are now not allowed.
namechange I do take on board your point about unfastened coats which seems perfectly reasonable. It's the coats on at all times I have a problem with.

[Lovingthecoast]

Discretion is needed here, especially with the juniors. I totally get that infants often aren't able to judge and need reminding to put coats on. However, many junior kids, especially those running around or playing football will be overheating if made to wear a coat n a mild autumn day.

[Arithmeticulous]

What no Batman or ghost games I think that's all DS goes to school for

Ours have the added problem of having to take blazers in as well as coats. I have no idea what they actually wear, but there is usually a mountain of coats and blazers --still- lying all over the KS2 playground at hometime.

[northender]

Thanks for your replies. I wanted to test the water before taking it any further. Yes we probably will write to the governors about it. Blimey, blazers too Arithmeticulous?? Ds would be passing out

[MilkRunningOutAgain]

DS is a hot kid and wears shorts and t shirt most the winter, submitting to a jumper when it's really frosty or snowy. But he does wear hat and gloves if its frosty as he says these are the parts that get cold. Dd is like me and enjoys wearing her coat on a cold day. In infants where coat wearing was enforced DS was miserable and the school gave him special dispensation not to wear it as it was agreed that he didn't play when he had a coat on as he was too hot and came in after break red cheeked and sweating. Now he is in juniors he can choose and it's much better. i get odd looks from other parents in the winter when DS is out in his summer shorts...he is very active and just runs around, it keeps him warm.

[northender]

Thats interesting Milk. My kids are very much like your ds. I'll be interested to hear what has happened today as the sun is out and it's a lovely warm day.

[NameChangeEx]

Arithmeticulous - unfortunately no Batman games with their coats. 60 3-5 yr olds, running at full speed around a very small concrete playground, with the majority of them hanging their coats off of their heads resulted in so many bumped heads and scraped knees. Especially when they fastened the button around their neck to keep it on and started strangling each other as they ran past!

[IsabelleRinging]

They use common sense- if it is cold or raining then they are told to put coats on, if it is warm (regardless of season) they can go out without, or with a jumper on on in-between days. Can't believe how hard some schools seem to make things.

[Ineedalife]

Dd3 was subjected to this kind of control freakery at her old school.

At her current school she is allowed to decide for her self if she is cold or not.

[scootle]

DD2's school insisted on coats being worn when she was in reception - she begged me to let her go to school without one because she got too hot! I am pretty sure the kids at her school are allowed to decide when they are out of reception though - there are always random coats lying around in the playground at pick-up time so they definitely are allowed to take them off.

[mummytime]

At DCs primary they decide for themselves, the infants might be directed, but not the juniors.

[Ixia]

This drives me potty. Dd is a hot child and is always active and because the school makes them wear their cardis and coats to play out in, i have to send her to school in a flimsy summer weight non waterproof coat. She often comes home hot and grumpy because she's been made to wear her cardi all day, the school is roasting. It really pees me off.

[GobHoblin]

Having just walked the dog past school at playtime, it appears no rules here! Some in short sleeves, some in wooly hats!

[trinity0097]

We insist that they wear coats when it's light rain (heavy rain means we go inside), anyone who doesn't have one has to sit in the hall. children have to put tracksuits on over their school clothes if they wish to play on the field and have to wear trainers.

[mrz]

We play outside whatever the weather and unless the weather is extreme leave it up to individual children, some feel the cold and some don't.

[caleyhighlander]

DD's school have a policy during winter that coats must be worn and fastened.

[Somemumsodd]

Reception have to put them on but not zipped up. After that they assume kids can decide when they are hot or cold. They teach them self care in reception!

[Waitingonasunnyday]

I assume ours lets DC choose as they haven't moaned about it! I have a hot son too - always wears shorts, plays a lot of football.
I insist he takes coat but I don't think he wears it much.

[Notinaminutenow]

No one died from getting a bit cold at playtime!

Juniors decide for themselves.

Not wearing one is great practice for senior school where no one is wearing a coat even in this sub zero weather.

[snowman1]

Hi just posting to give a different perspective. I am in North America - huge snowstorm today. Kids must zip up everything, snow pants, snow boots, balaclava, gloves, hat, throughout winter (nov-march) and seconds need to be provided if they all get wet which they do. Here it is all safety based so if it drops below a certain temp they won't tolerate the 'hot kid' argument. I have to say I agree and wish someone was following me round fixing my hat on!
. I went out for an hour and am still nursing frostbite ears as I thought I could cope. Give the teachers some scope to deal with it - they are out there with them!