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!

So doesn’t seem like a problem then?

I didn't say it was. I am happy with the level of outdoor provision. I was responding to another who queried why I didn't just send a waterproof coat.

And the coat that is part of the uniform is not waterproof??

@Tararararara

So doesn’t seem like a problem then?

I didn't say it was. I am happy with the level of outdoor provision. I was responding to another who queried why I didn't just send a waterproof coat.

Describing it as “and in their infinite wisdom....” would indicate you did rather see it as a problem

And the coat that is part of the uniform is not waterproof??

No. I've no idea why not, seems stupid to me. It's sort of shower proof, but not really. They do go out in showers though.

Almost every kid in the school has the school coat though.

I don't have an issue with the level of outdoor provision, I do think a none waterproof cost was a very odd choice though.

They’ve been doing a lot of outdoor learning since returning. We’re in the north of Scotland, had a brief flurry of snow yesterday and the kids are still getting out a lot.

They do keep them in for very wet weather.

1x 15 minutes in the morning supervised by the HT or DHT, and then supposedly 15 minutes in the afternoon supervised by the teachers but DDs not been out at all in the afternoon this week no idea why.

They've also stopped doing forest school, and they're staying in the classroom for every lesson rather than using say a computer room or the music room.

They're supposed to have 1 hour of PE outside a week but again DDs wasn't outside this week, she did yoga in her classroom.

This is year 2. But my friend with a child in Year 2 and another in Reception says Reception is the same this year when usually they're always outside even in winter unless it's bucketing it down.

I don’t know why you’d have less outdoor learning, especially as covid is obviously not as easily transmitted outdoors, seems to make sense to have more.

@Tadpolesandfroglets

I don’t know why you’d have less outdoor learning, especially as covid is obviously not as easily transmitted outdoors, seems to make sense to have more.

Possibly because of bubbles, and the use of outdoor space for all PE lessons. Our school has had to change from 2 morning break slots to 4, and same with lunch breaks. Add in classes all doing PE lessons outside plus most classes doing the daily mile on some/most days, means there is little opportunity for classes to use the playground at other times. And going off site is problematic due to staffing.

Well my school policy is to have them outside as much as possible.

I'm a reception teacher and my class had about 3.5 hours outside today. That's about normal.

I don't know how long but from the photos the seesaw photos they spend a lot of time outside including some lessons. (Each year has a small outside space and pe lessons are done in the hall)

We also have to provide puddle suits / Wellington boots/ hats and gloves that are left at school full time as they take them out in all weather.

It has reduced at DD's school and they exercise in pens fenced in by metal barriers so there isn't much room. Luckily we walk to and from school so DD gets 2.5 miles of walking each day and unless it is very wet we stop to play in the park on the way home too. Without that she would be miserable, as she needs to run around a lot.

@Indiaplain This is terrible ! How to me to limit the time spent in the fresh air is not in any case impossible!

I teach year 1. They have 15 mins in the morning, 30 ins at lunchtime and 10 mins in the afternoon.

Oh gee, it's like the fact that most kids missed 5 months of school that needs back-teaching plus delivering this year's curriculum never happened.

15 mins break, 30 mins lunch average. The quicker they eat, the quicker they are out.

There's some little ones who would take a full hour to eat their lunch given half a chance, but due to Covid we hurry them along and get the whole class outside (1 MDSA can't be both in class AND on the playground supervising if the class splits up.)

Plus 1hr PE per week and one afternoon a week forest school for lower years. So 7hrs per week.
Yr 6 get more as they eat outside in dry weather.

@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.

I agree but you will get children sent in without a coat or inappropriate shoes. And the grief from parents of their child should happen to get wet! You’d think they were made of rice paper.

My class of 5 year olds are stuck sitting at desks all day. Last year's Year 1 could move around, play on the floor, work in groups, sit on the carpet for teaching inputs then move to their tables. They really need their outdoor play at the moment, especially as most of their extracurricular clubs have stopped and the weather isn't great. Children will learn better if they are well exercised.

20 mins at morning playtime, 30 mins at lunchtime. Plus half a day forest school every week. PE is twice a week and normally at least 1 is outside.

:47FlouncerInDenial

Oh gee, it's like the fact that most kids missed 5 months of school that needs back-teaching plus delivering this year's curriculum never happened.

🙄 I'm not sure what your job is- I'm probably not qualified to tell you how to do it. Let teachers do theirs, please. If you aren't currently working in a classroom with the current pressures and expectations on top of previous issues with underfunding, moving goalposts and in many schools, toxic culture, you have no idea.

20 minute morning break, 1hr 45 lunch break (expected to walk home and back, mine go back early to play if the weather is nice and not if it's not). 10 minutes afternoon break if they have three lessons that day. PE three times a week - DC1 outside if weather is suitable, DC2's class are always inside as they have it first lesson of the day.

@Bluewavescrashing

:47FlouncerInDenial

Oh gee, it's like the fact that most kids missed 5 months of school that needs back-teaching plus delivering this year's curriculum never happened.

🙄 I'm not sure what your job is- I'm probably not qualified to tell you how to do it. Let teachers do theirs, please. If you aren't currently working in a classroom with the current pressures and expectations on top of previous issues with underfunding, moving goalposts and in many schools, toxic culture, you have no idea.

Um. Not a teacher but someone who works in schools

Trying to point out to parents on this thread that schools already have a LOT to cram into the 6 hours a day without their entitled moaning.
Which bit of that did you miss?

Mine are outside as much as possible, this is the guidance in Scotland.

Over half the day for the youngest (P2, age 6) most days and maybe slightly less for the oldest (P6, age 10), but still a fair portion of the day. They go out in all weather.

I thought you were saying there is too much to fit into the day to allow any playtime.

Apologies, it's been a long week.