Outdoor play at school

[Indiaplain]

I am wondering how much outdoor playtime your primary DC are getting now that most schools have had to reduce the time they have outside? Mine are getting 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at lunch - that is it. (on PE days they have an hour doing PE outside twice a week). I really dont think it is enough, especially as all after school clubs have finished and it is dark early, plus meeting in the park with friends is not allowed. My DD's are bouncing off the walls in the evenings!

(not in uk)
3 hours(45min) pe outside a week.
10 min between each 45 min lesson during which the room is aired and 20 min at lunchtime.

15 minutes at break, 30mins at lunch. I think the infant's have an afternoon break as well (my Yr3 does too sometimes, but it's colouring etc inside). Plus 2x PE, one inside one outside.

I try to pick them up by foot a couple of times a week (it's an hour's walk for them, although I do it in 40mins for collection, but that's down hill!)

15 mins in morning and about 10 in the afternoon, and 30 at lunch. Also encouraged to teach outside as much as possible but I find it hard to do meaningful work outside for much of the curriculum. This is KS2.

As much as they can, but they don't go out in rain. They aim for 15 minutes at break, 30 at lunch and one literacy, numeracy or science class outside per day. So at least an 1hr 15minutes. Plus they have sports club once a week and one PE lesson each week is outside (sometimes 2), so that's another at least 2 hours a week. But if it's raining. then none.

As much as they can, but they don't go out in rain.

I really don't get that
it's winter in the uk. of course it rains sometimes. unless it rains buckets appropriate clothing will protect from wet.

@pinkbalconyrailing

As much as they can, but they don't go out in rain.

I really don't get that
it's winter in the uk. of course it rains sometimes. unless it rains buckets appropriate clothing will protect from wet.

They go out in drizzle, but no actual wet.

The school in their infinite wisdom did not choose waterproof coats as part of the uniform!

15 minutes in the morning and 30m at lunch. 30m of outside pe a week. It’s a crying shame that it’s so little at the moment especially with no clubs etc on right now. I can definitely see a difference in the children during the day. We go out in the rain but not if it’s pouring. We couldn’t go out at lunchtime today and the kids end up bouncing off the walls. We will put up with as much bad weather as possible to get them outside as it makes for a much more pleasant afternoon but sometimes it’s just too much.

The school in their infinite wisdom did not choose waterproof coats as part of the uniform!

tbh when in uk we always bought weather appropriate coats for dc. and shoes! closed shoes rather than mary janes for dd.

15 mins for break. An hour over lunch including 30 mins outside. School turf them out in most weather.

Missing extra curricular sports and clubs!

The school in their infinite wisdom did not choose waterproof coats as part of the uniform!

Surely you just put a waterproof coat on your child?

I’m in Scotland, our school has the kids out as much as possible, a break in the morning and afternoon, 30 mins play at lunchtime and at least one outdoor PE class a week. Parents have been reminded to ensure children are dressed for the weather and have coats, gloves, and suitable footwear.

Mine are getting exactly the same as before just in half a smaller yard. They have 3 yards, a playing field and a basketball court and the classes each have their own area

To add to my comment above, we're a very rural school and go out in absolutely all weathers including pelting rain. Lovely to not have parents complain like they did at a previous school I worked at. Children also do outdoor PE for an hour and forest school for an afternoon.

Mines out for about an hour each day. Hes reception though and they have a separate play area.
He also does forest school once a week regardless of weather.

Pe is indoor at the moment bit thats more because most of PE is taken up with the kids changing. Once they all have the hang of it they'll start outdoor.

My class have 20 minutes in the morning. 30 at lunch. We were going for an afternoon walk around the field but it’s two muddy to do that now. We share our play space with two other classes so can’t use that in the afternoon as it’s now used for PE.

As much as possible. School uniform has been relaxed so that kids can go in joggers or leggings and sturdy footwear. We have been advised to provide warm waterproof jackets and trousers in for outdoor learning and wellies when it’s wet. Of course that didn’t stop some parents sending their kids in full proper uniform and then moaning when they came home wet, it’s not like we weren’t told...
The kids have “indoor shoes” so the classrooms stay relatively clean. You should see the state of the playing fields, it looks like Aintree after a steeplechase in a downpour. They stay in to eat lunch if it’s raining though, but then they all pile outside to run about.

My children go to school in Cumbria. Kids go outside whatever the weather otherwise they would never go out. They do mile a day ( every day ) then are out for breaks and lunchtime and PE twice a week. I love that they are encouraged to be out in all weathers. They are expected to bring wellies, waterproofs and extra layers in the winter,

Loads of it.

And sport. On Friday my son has triple rugby and my daughter has triple football.

Then morning break 30 mins.

Lunch break after eating 45 mins.

Sport every day.

It's the same as before lockdown.

15 minutes in the morning. Half an hour at lunch.

All years also run a mile a day on top of this.

PE is outdoors, once a week. They only don't do it if it's absolutely hoofing it down.

We're quite outdoorsy and I drag the kids out no matter the weather but I know some children at the school struggle.

Jellycatspyjamas

The coat is a school coat and part of the uniform. It wouldn't matter if I put a waterproof coat on my kid, the rest of the class would be in their school coat.

My infant school...

KS1 - 15 min in morning and afternoon; lunch time (approx 45 min, sometimes more depending on how quick they eat lunch.) They are then outside for other sessions during the week too, more informally or as part of their lessons. Also tend to have one PE session outdoors a week.

EYFS have this plus more. Their break times are longer, especially in an afternoon. They also have an outdoor area linked to their classroom and can access this during any of their continuous provision/free flow sessions each day.

@Tararararara

Jellycatspyjamas

The coat is a school coat and part of the uniform. It wouldn't matter if I put a waterproof coat on my kid, the rest of the class would be in their school coat.

Sorry if I’ve misunderstood But are you actually forbidden from bringing in their own wet weather coat?

When they do water play we are asked to send waterproofs in, which I do.

The school uniform also has gloves and hats as part of it so they do go out in the cold, just not in heavy rain. There has been one day so far this academic year they haven't been out. We are North West. And the day in question it was pelting it down at lunch! Flash flood style!

So doesn’t seem like a problem then?

But are you actually forbidden from bringing in their own wet weather coat?

Not forbidden, but strongly discouraged and strongly encouraged to use the coat that is sold as part of the uniform. Plus it wouldn't matter if I brought in full rain wear for DC, they wouldn't allow just him out in it if it was deemed too wet for the rest of the class.

We have full proper rain wear at home, which I would send to school if was any use. At home we are out every opportunity.

Schools are not reducing time outside as a policy op it must just be your school and some random other ones.