If this happened to your child what would your opinion be?

[Highlyflavouredgravy]

Children in school . Doing an art activity with a non washable paint.
Given painting shirts to wear. Nd Child refuses to wear shirt. Offered two alternatives. Refuses all.
Does not take part in activity. . Is given all equipment to do so , is encouraged throughout to join in, by staff but not pressured.

What would you think?

Fair enough. Parents go mad if it's not washable so no other choice really than to sit our. They made their choice and were offered many times, how much pressure can be put before you say ok then.

That the school tried all avenues for them to join but didn't push too far.

What do you think should have happened?

As above.

Also as above

Sounds like the school handled it well

I'd think the child clearly didn't want to participate. They had the option to do so with and without the protective clothing and chose not to. I'd also think the staff respected their decision.

I feel like I'm missing what you're thinking about the situation.

School couldn’t really do anything else .

I’d think they did their best?

Depends on the age of the child somewhat. I might be a bit 🫤 about schools using non washable paint but it doesn’t sound unreasonable overall.

Sounds like the school did everything they could to encourage the child to join in. They can't exactly chain them to the desk until its done, if the child was point blank refusing to join in then backing off and letting them be was the right thing to do, anything else is likely to have resulted in a distressed child, an outcome nobody wants.

I think school were exceptionally patient.

As above

Staff did well.

Handled well.

I would think it’s a shame my child did want to join in and would ask them why when they we got home.

Thank you.
I am the staff and am worried about it! Wanted to check i wasn't being unreasonable!

Id think they handled it fine. Can't think of anything else they could have done.

What’s your concern op?

I would think, as an ND parent to an ND child, that school made a reasonable adjustment, offered an alternative to that reasonable adjustment, my child refused, was gently encouraged but still refused, and that the school had done everything they could.

I would thank them and my child would have learned more natural consequences.

I would be happy with this for my DD. I would also be happy if she joined in without the shirt (though might question why KS1 were using non-washable paint, but assume this child is older!)
Only thing I might ask is if they'd taken her for a movement break as this usually gets her to join in after.

I wouldn’t think anything because staff did the right thing.

As a parent of the child I’d be thankful that they’d offered alternatives, but not pressured the child into doing it when it’s not something important. I’d expect that if it were something like maths or English that they would find a way to enable my child to participate but not painting.

Is ND neurodiverse?
Was it a different activity to normal routine?
If so, its not surprising they werent up for wearing protective clothing and this could have been antipated and washable paints or an alternative activity could have been available.
I do wonder if there could have bern more support in the lead up, so rehearing what would happen, practicing with the clothing etc.
Once stressed about the clothing they are very unlikely to be able to engage with the activity.

I know schools are struggling, so this is my parent hat rather than school hat, thinking how much my son struggled with random art activities and how they were never planned with him in mind, or prepared for, just spring in him. So he woukd shut down. But with a bit of foresight he could have done them.

I hadnt seen your update. Its not something to worry about. Go have your tea!
My observation was only really to think could something be done different next time.

Spends what you mean by ND.

If that child is autistic and you’ve told him the paint is nit washable, I can see why

• they had such major issue with the tshirt given by school (sensory stuff)
• they didnt want to participate (fear if stain etc…)

in which case, I would have said that the activity was excluding the child by default.

im surprised that the school chose to use non washable paint tbh.

I work with ND children.

They follow the rules or they don’t get to join in with the activity, they are not treated any differently to each other or any other child.

Of course there may be adjustments eg not wearing something too close to their neck or not touching paints with their hands etc depending on their individual issues.

But if they don’t want to join in for whatever reason then they shouldn’t be forced, just like a NT child.