Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that an 8yo can decide if she needs a coat at playtime?

29 replies

ChaosTrulyReigns · 06/04/2011 10:38

DD3 came home upset yesterday as she was told off for not wearing a coat for playtime.

I believe that, at a lot younger than 8, a DC can make their own decisions about comfort levels. It is absolutely nothing to do with the TAs what the children are wearing, as long as they are complying with the uniform rules.

DD2 also mentioned that the same TA challenged her about not wearing a coat, and offered to check whether DD2 was telling the truth when she said she hadn't brought one to school. Shock

She won't allow them to remove their coats if they're boiling because of playing football either.

Surely, rather than nagging them to wear a coat, it would make less hassle for the TA to let them be independent and choose their own attire? The DC could always nip to the cloakroom if they have made the wrong decision.

OP posts:
CrapBag · 06/04/2011 10:42

YANBU.

My DS is only 3 but he seems to be warmer than the average person! He runs around in a t shirt and takes his jumper off himself. I figure he can sense when he is too warm and just because I am always cold, doesn't mean that he is too.

Not allowing them to remove their coats when running around playing football is bloody ridiculous!! Are they also expected to wear coats in PE too?

tabulahrasa · 06/04/2011 10:45

Why is she at school without a coat? What if the weather changes through the day, would she have to walk home without one as well?

MrsPresley · 06/04/2011 10:46

Well I agree that at 8 they can decide if they want/need a coat but I dont agree that it's ok for them to "nip" to the cloakroom if they then decide they want one.

I can only go by my own daughters school and once they are out then they are out, no nipping back in for anything as there isnt anyone to keep an eye on them (if they fall etc).

Original poster
ChaosTrulyReigns · 06/04/2011 10:48

That's a good point Crap.

I will investigate.

I really do think that the TAs create extra work for themselves and the time could be better used watching the playground malarkey than faffing with issues that the DC are capable of making their own independent decisions about.

OP posts:
applechutney · 06/04/2011 10:49

I totally agree with you, and in my children's school they tend to be allowed to make their own choice of coat or not.

However, I have heard many parents give out about this. Their feeling seems to be that teachers should be 'coat police', and that on no account should a child be coatless unless the sun is splitting the stones.

I have also heard parents give out about PE being held in the yard, in case it is too chilly for their children!

Original poster
ChaosTrulyReigns · 06/04/2011 10:50

There's a cagoule in her bag tabula.

And the school don't mind them nipping in for real reasons rather than minxiness.

OP posts:
ruddynorah · 06/04/2011 10:53

oh yes. dd is nearly 5 and gets very very hot. she has been told she has to keep her coat on at playtime. i help one afternoon a week and have seen her steaming hot running round. our compromise is she ties it round her waist so it's still 'on' for the playground supervisor's rule purposes Hmm

tabulahrasa · 06/04/2011 10:53

oh well in that case, tell her not to tell people she doesn't have one with her, it'll make them wonder why, rofl

If she was warm enough then she should be able to not wear it - but... you get so many parents complaining that their child was allowed out without one that tbh the TA probably does consider it part of her job

TennisFan · 06/04/2011 10:53

this really annoys me too - at our school on the hottest day they seem to be wearing winter coats, scarves and hats.
My DC harldy ever have coats in this weather - sure its double figures, 14 degrees almost tropical!

I agree the DC should be able to decide if they are cold or warm.

BeerTricksPotter · 06/04/2011 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BluddyMoFo · 06/04/2011 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ChaosTrulyReigns · 06/04/2011 22:57
Blush

You're probably right BMF!

OP posts:
igetmorelovefromthecat · 06/04/2011 23:02

At my dd's school they have to have coats all year round, by now pretty much all the kids are in raincoats rather than padded coats. I think they get told at playtime whether to put their coats on or not (it's only if it looks like rain they do, now that they do not need their coats for warmth). I can't imagine any of them overheat particularly in a thin plastic raincoat, even if they are playing football.

ChasingSquirrels · 06/04/2011 23:05

mine haven't gone in coats for a couple of weeks now.
ds walked home in the rain the other day, he got a bit wet, oh well.

blackeyedsusan · 06/04/2011 23:10

At this time of year i would let them make their own decision, except i had to tell dd(4)to take hers off today as it was very warm at home time, and i had to wrestle the pink bobble hat off ds as he was going very pink in the face too.

wear it to school in the morning, and take it home with you. then she can't be made to wear it in warm weather.

Skinit · 07/04/2011 00:43

YANBU I have always let mine have a say in these things.....within reason obviously.

bumpsoon · 07/04/2011 07:45

This always makes me laugh ,if its raining they dont play out ,so unless it is cold ,which it definately isnt ,what is the point ?

bigTillyMint · 07/04/2011 07:52

YANBU

DS(10) has been told by the chief dinnerlady that he cannot go out to play if he doesn't have a coat on. It was 21 here yesterday FFS, and he runs around doing the sports activities the whole time!

Meanwhile DD(11) has been told that they all have to have their blazers on all the time inside the building, ontop of shirt and jumper!

onceamai · 07/04/2011 08:00

Senseless. It's where I start losing respect for schools and those who work in them. We had this at primary - coats on at playtime - can't go out if there's a hint of ice or drizzle - the same organisation a week later had 30 10 year olds sitting on the concrete playground and those who had forgotten their tracksuits were doing it in shorts and a polo shirt - couldn't pop their school jumper on because it wasn't PE kit. It happened because I drove past and saw it. The sick bit is that I didn't want to make a fuss because I wasn't sure if all the secondary references had at that point gone out and the HT was a bully who couldn't be trusted.

And teachers wonder why they are not respected as a profession.

onceamai · 07/04/2011 08:01

Can I add sitting on the concrete playground when temperatures were sub zero a week after the snow closure to put the above post into context.

ladysybil · 07/04/2011 08:02

NO. i dont think that an 8 yo can decide on wearing a coat or not, unless they are far far maturer than any 8 yo i have ever come accross.

bigTillyMint · 07/04/2011 08:08

ladysybil how cosseted are all the 8yo's you know?

And what's the worst that can happen to them? They feel cold!

LindyHemming · 07/04/2011 08:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onceamai · 07/04/2011 08:14

Teachers are being slated because they and the HT should be supervising the TA's who should only be following instructions NOT making decisions about policy issues.

virginiasmonalogue · 07/04/2011 08:19

Yes, all my kidsat primary (4,6,8) are allowed to decide for themselves. What's the problem? if they get cold, then next playtime they wear one!