To complain to school or leave it be

Yes you could ask the Head if they could send out an email. At our school all the toys etc is just kept in a shed. Create a poster on canva, takes a few minutes. Donate old books and a shelf for the shed. Not all children want to run around every day. You can also buy relatively cheap storage from Argos or Aldi if needed. You could probably raise enough by doing a cake sale

Yes and I think it is a more holistic approach - rather than asking SEN children to wear headphones for example, which singles them out as being different.

Just a few changes can make a school environment more manageable for many children, not just those with SEN.
Some children really need to burn off energy and would be bouncing off the walls if they didn’t run around; some need quiet space and an opportunity to rest to help them manage the lessons. Managing both can be done, but needs a bit of creative thinking, and helps if there’s an active PTA for fundraising, which I am aware not all schools have.

Our school also has a reading shed and playground pals in high vis.

They also do a colouring club. And we have kids gym equipment and loads of stuff like hoops skipping ropes and dressing up stuff, barbies etc for kids who don’t want to play football. Definitely bring it up, you could help to run a fundraiser.

Plus parents are often happy to donate old toys etc

Or maybe as the playground is so small, the school could look at having a classroom set aside for break and lunch with say puzzles and drawing materials for the children who want an alternative. I imagine there are quite a few children who would prefer this.

Won't stay a quiet area for long then!

My DDs school has worked on improving their playground. It is a basic concrete playground. They have a hut which children can go in for colouring/games and more recently are using an outdoor shelter area for similar. DD remarked how a boy in her class (who is likely ND) came to sit there to read his book. (She was pleased about this, as she had helped set it up). They also section the playground so there is an area where you are not allowed to use balls/run. The PTA used funds to install a 'trim trail', but that must have been expensive.

It was mental health week a few weeks back and they did things e.g. yoga (indoors) and a dance party with bubbles (probably still pretty loud!). To be fair, this was at lunch rather than break, when there isn't much time.

DD's school has year 5 & 6 children trained as 'Playground Pals' and 'Mental Health Ambassadors'. The 2nd term is quite grand(!) but basically the roles involve organising games/activities for other children. There is staff involvement of course, so it's not time free, but works quite well. DD likes being an ambassador, as it gives her something to do. She is also an 'Eco Warrior' and have permission (and a hi-vis vest!) to go into school at break time and check each class are.using their recycling bins correctly. Again sounds a bit random, but she loves it.

It sounds like your DD is not the only one who is finding the playground difficult which is unsurprising, not all children like the running / shouting / football environment especially as the playground is just a square concrete box.

Another idea I have just remembered is a ‘reading corner’ in the playground which has some bean bags and a box of books.

Or maybe as the playground is so small, the school could look at having a classroom set aside for break and lunch with say puzzles and drawing materials for the children who want an alternative. I imagine there are quite a few children who would prefer this.

At the secondary school the library was set up exactly like this during lunch, it was a little haven for the quieter kids.

I have experience of this as a parent. It started in Year 5 and my child would often eat in the bathroom for a few years. She lived. Diagnosis and medication was game changer. But she can’t wait to leave at 16. Senco mildly helpful but school not very understanding of ND generally and too stretched. Good luck OP.

I think it’s difficult when your child is struggling and needs help, but school staff are stretched so thinly, and there are so many children who also need help.

It’s not simply a case of ‘a TA can sit with students who don’t want to be outside’ - schools have cut TA numbers and those left are supervising the playground.

The teachers will be using break time to pop to the loo / quick drink / prepare the classroom for the next lesson, they can’t be supervising children constantly 8am - 3pm.

As the playground is very small and noisy, could you and other parents work with the school to improve the environment for ALL students? If it’s just a big concrete space it will feel overwhelming.

For example, at my kids primary school the PTA fundraised for some trees and planting and built benches for the playground, this helped to create some shade and quieter spaces away from the football kids.

One parent also got some grant funding for the playground.

Playground toys / activities also helped focus the children’s energy, which the TAs on duty would supervise. Having the more energetic kids in one area doing catch or dancing or whatever meant the quieter kids got left in peace.

There are also parent volunteers who do reading with some children - this helped the TAs have more time with other children, those with SEN for example.

My DS found the noisy playground difficult too but he usually took a book or comic outside and would sit and read it on a bench with his snack. In that way he was able to ‘tune out’ the noise by focusing on his book. It’s a skill he still uses now and it helps him in busy places, for example at a train station.
Could you discuss with your DD what specifically she finds difficult about the playground?

I am glad that you have spoken to school now and have some solutions in place. As others have suggested try not to go in combative as you all need to work together.

Maybe. Or if she struggles with loud noises like you say, she might have frozen and no one would know she’s there.

Schools are considering the needs of ND children and adapting their practice all the time. Telling staff that they ‘just need to’ give up their break time or find an inside space isn’t helpful. Chat to the school and find solutions and compromises together. Staff are more incredibly stretched and doing the best they can.

Surely it's easier to have a large number in than a small number? You can then have someone on duty inside, just like if it was wet play and someone on duty outside. I guess it depends on how many staff you have.

Schools really need to be considering the needs of ND kids more rather than just saying they 'can't'. They need to find a way than they can as numbers aren't going to be going down.

Fully 20-30% of most of our primary school classes are ND ... we can't keep them all in.

Because schools should make reasonable adjustments for struggling children. Adjustments that are specific to their need.

First thing you should do is talk to your daughter. What happened? Why today out of all days (or has it happened before and they just didn’t notice)? What does she think would help? Would ear defenders or loop ring help? Having her snack early in the classroom? Does she need her snack(some kids don’t )?Stay in the library without a snack? Etc .

Then email or arrange a meeting with the school from a “she’s struggling a lot more than we realised, how can we help?” perspective and offer any solutions that she came up with and are feasible.

OP, I’m approaching this from the perspective of a teacher, as I’ve dealt with students like your DC before.

I think that you should contact the school, either by email or request a meeting.

When you contact them, the worst thing you can do it appear combative. Schools are drowning at the moment, and if they sense that you are going to be difficult then they just won’t listen to you. You need to approach the issue as one of your DC needing more support. Explain that she’s on the waiting list for diagnosis, and request a meeting with senco. It would be good to have some solutions in mind to suggest for meal times, bearing in mind that students must be supervised at all times.

Respectfully, eating in the toilet cannot be allowed at school, so while the teacher on duty was perhaps too harsh with the way they approached it, a line needs to be drawn somewhere. However, if your DC can’t handle eating in the playground due to noise, a solution needs to be found. Loops, or noise cancelling headphones could be a start. Longer term, a quieter place should be made available, although then it becomes a supervision and funding issue. Again, suggest solutions if you know of anything that could work.

Remember that the school is there to work with you, and not against you. If you approach it in this way then the conversation and outcomes will be so much more productive.

I hope it goes well for you and your DC.