It’s another one about heating in schools (sorry)

[Notcontent]

There was another thread on this topic, but it doesn’t really answer the questions I have - so apologies.

There has not been any communication from my DD’s school about this, but she has told me that apparently they will not have the heating on and the windows are open. It has only come up now as it was warm when they went back to school but now the temperatures have started to drop.

I have checked the school government guidance on this (the Covid guidance) and can’t find anything. Also, have other schools issued official communications/guidance to parents on this?

I know that lots of people thinks this is a non issue, but we all have a different genetic make up and some people feel the cold more and are prone to respiratory illness etc if sitting in the cold all day. Which is why I wonder what the “official” line is on this.

You probably wont find government guidance about open windows, it will come under improving ventilation and for most schools the only option to do this is to open the windows.

Is she already wearing thermals/warmer jumper/fingerless gloves?

If you want the "official" line speak to your school. Can she be moved further from the windows/when will the heating be switched on?

Thanks. Interestingly the earlier government guidance mentioned ventilation, but this has been withdrawn, and the current guidance does not mention it!

She is already wearing a long sleeved thermal top but it will only get colder. Apparently the teachers have told them that the heating will not be put on even once it gets colder.

Pointless putting the heating on if the windows are wide open. All that will achieve will be a load of wasted energy/expense but little in terms of making the classrooms warmer.

While this is the solution they will just have to dress in layers with fingerless gloves etc.

Perhaps they should get them up and jumping/running around for a few minutes every hour, as that will help enormously in not feeling the cold so much?

That’s insane. They won’t be able to keep it off all winter!

No official communications about this from DC schools either but high school have told my DC class they can wear thermals, plain jumper under blazer or even coat in class if they are cold.

Think I'd better buy him warm hat and gloves too.

The school I work in is having heating on from today. Some windows are open too. We have been told that the uniform policy may be amended to include extra layers.

Both my DC schools are the same.

I suggest making sure her feet are warm - are they allowed to wear boots?
If so, I would try and get her lined boots, if not, try and persuade school to allow them, and make sure she has shoes with a thick sole and warm insoles. Ones with shiny aluminium on the bottom and fleece on top are ideal.
Tights under trousers, or knee length warm socks.
Can she wear a thin fleece over her school jumper? Polo neck instead of polo shirt?
Could she wear a hat in class?

Teachers will be cold too, I'm sure they will incorporate some moving around to get the circulation going, but you could talk to the school about this.

As a person who feels the cold: thermal base layers, tights, trousers, a couple of pairs of socks, thermals on body, make sure that they are long enough to meet in the middle.

I suspect that this is one of those things that will have to be looked at again as winter closes in. I used to work with someone with Reynauds and it would have been very bad for her to get that cold - maybe even dangerous. I get blue fingers and toes myself and would not be able to work properly if I got too cold - I worked in a freezing cold office and would end up sitting in 5 layers (thermal top, normal top, jumper, fleece, outside coat), scarf and gloves and still be too cold to function properly - numb, blue fingers and trouble concentrating. They’re going to end up with similar problems in schools.

You could try little hand warmers in the meantime - the kind that you snap a little button in to get going then boil to reset. Mountain Warehouse often have them for cheap - you could send her with a supply for the day and reset them in the evening.

Barbara - I agree that putting in the heating with windows open would be really wasteful.

I just think this is a policy that hasn’t really been properly thought how in terms of how it might impact on different children (and teachers!) and in particular how it might impact on those who have a disability or medical condition that makes them more susceptible to the cold.

Also, warm drinks. Would she be allowed a flask of a warm drink? Heating up from the inside is often better than trying to warm up from the outside, once you get cold.

@Spudlet

I suspect that this is one of those things that will have to be looked at again as winter closes in. I used to work with someone with Reynauds and it would have been very bad for her to get that cold - maybe even dangerous. I get blue fingers and toes myself and would not be able to work properly if I got too cold - I worked in a freezing cold office and would end up sitting in 5 layers (thermal top, normal top, jumper, fleece, outside coat), scarf and gloves and still be too cold to function properly - numb, blue fingers and trouble concentrating. They’re going to end up with similar problems in schools.

You could try little hand warmers in the meantime - the kind that you snap a little button in to get going then boil to reset. Mountain Warehouse often have them for cheap - you could send her with a supply for the day and reset them in the evening.

Yes, I am hoping it will be re-examined. I know thermal layers make a difference, but really it’s not ideal and there is no way I would go into work in winter if the heating was not on.

My dc (primary) have been told the same as Peace's dc, plain jumper or fleece as well as gloves, hat & scarf will be allowed in classrooms when the temperature really drops. I'm not not sure what will happen if we get a winter like 2010 (when we had weeks of temps in the negative), I'm presuming at that point they would have to close doors & windows & stick the heating on or you'd never get them to concentrate.

What sort of heating does the school have? Some schools have a system where it recirculates air and that is not recommended as all you are doing is potentially spreading the virus round the room.

The school may also have its risk assessment on its website

I believe they removed the regulations around minimum temperatures in schools - however the Workplace regulations say it needs to be 'reasonable' - generally thought of as > 16C, so you could raise that.

Mind you, if it was 16 in my office I'd be wearing my coat, and layers to type. It's one thing being up and about at 16 degrees, quite another being sat still at a desk.

not in uk, but my dc school asked to bring in fluffy slippers and fleeces as the windows will be open and the heating only set in a way that pipes will not freeze over.
frost is rare here, but temps below 5 degrees common in january.

It's going to be chaos this year. Schools need the heating on. Many are big old buildings and need to be heated - not just because the kids are cold but because the pipes will freeze!

Mind you, if it was 16 in my office I'd be wearing my coat, and layers to type. It's one thing being up and about at 16 degrees, quite another being sat still at a desk. Quite, 16 is pretty nippy if you're not doing anything.

Very worrying when you have a child who's brittle asthma is triggered by cold air

You need to find out the truth straight from the school or the local authority about this.

You don’t know how many windows they are planning on opening or anything yet. It seems up in the air.

Even the teachers may not know the full picture. I don’t see how schools could go around breaking the law having too low temperatures. So laws would have to be changed prior in this regard. Teachers have to work there too so it won’t just be the kids that are kicking off.

Speak to the school directly and see if things have been finalised yet.

I’ve been looking at usb powered heated vests for my DC

Thanks everyone. Have just been doing some research and most health organisations, including the WHO, recommend indoor temperatures of at least 18 degrees to avoid respiratory illness, etc and there is an interesting policy document from the National Education Union - neu.org.uk/advice/cold-weather-and-classroom-temperature-england

Is the school being sensible about letting people wear coats and whatever warm clothing they need indoors?

@SnuggyBuggy

Is the school being sensible about letting people wear coats and whatever warm clothing they need indoors?

I think everyone has started wearing thermal layers under their uniform but to be honest, if it gets to the stage where they have to sit in their coats then I will not be sending DD to school, as I would not be able to work in such conditions, so can’t really expect her to.

"I’ve been looking at usb powered heated vests for my DC"

This sounds dangerous to me!