To think the teachers were BU?

[BalthierBunansa]

I have a DN (aged 9) and my DS was telling me that yesterday in school was very, very cold. So cold that according to DN all he kids were huddled together in big coats and rubbing their hands to try to keep warm at dinner break (which lasts an hour). Numerous children had asked the supervisor if they could all go inside for break as it was too cold, but when the supervisor asked the head teacher, she refused. DN said that her hands were bright red and the little ones especially were cold. AIBU in thinking the headteacher should have allowed to children to spend break inside than in the freezing cold for 1 hour when they were clearly uncomfortable?

[exoticfruits]

The car is the problem-they don't realise it is so cold.

[5madthings]

our school.makes it verybclear in the school prospectus and on the website that parentd must provide suitable earm.clothing. they put signs up on the classroom doors saying thr same as soon as its cold and a note in the newsletter.

i guess lots of kids are driven door to door? so parents dont kit them.out for cold/wet weather?

we have a half hr walk across a field to school come rain or sun so my lot and myself have wellies and waterproofs etc.

[exoticfruits]

I have always found that the whole school goes out because the Head has the same attitude-I can only think that parents must think they would be in-why else would you send a child to school in snow without even a pair of gloves?

[5madthings]

yes warm clothes dont need to be expensive! i get a bunch of gloves from the pound shop every year, ditto hats etc, waterproof trousers i have never paid more than £10 a pair, lots of camping shops etc do them cheaply and coats from h&m or charity shops, tho i dont mind paying a bit more as i pass them down (4 boys).


so glad my boys school has a good attitude and sends the kids out when its cold and wet, the other year when there was snow i turned up at hoem time to find the whole school out on the field, teachers and ht as well, all building snowmen and one part of the playground where they were allowed to ahve snowball fights, they even had sledges as they have some small hills. the kids were having a ball and as the ht said we dont get snow that often so he wanted the kids to make the most of it! :)

[BackforGood]

Oh, I know exotic - just replying to that specific point

[exoticfruits]

Exactly, BackforGood, but many DCs from well off families arrive at school with inadequate clothing due to centrally heated homes and cars. The parents are probably like OP and expect DCs to be kept in the warm!

[BackforGood]

People talking about 'providing' warm clothes though it really isn't necessary. All the Pound shops and markets around here have a wide variety of gloves, hats, and scarves for £1 ~ not exactly specialist equipment. Everyone needs a coat, and if you can't afford it, then look in the charity shops / jumble sales and get one there. It really isn't up to the "state" to provide children with clothes, beyond making sure all families have a minimum income.
Nearly all my dcs coats over the years have come from 'pass me downs' which have then been passed to others afterwards or to charity shops - children's coats don't tend to wear out very easily.

[exoticfruits]

I loved the ice runs! In the juniors we used to get one on each side of an infant and pull them down it-they loved it-it wouldn't be allowed now and in fact I have never seen an ice slide.
I think wet/cold weather gear would be a great thing for PTAs to spend money on and then there would never be an excuse to stay in and they would all be much healthier.

[CMOTDibbler]

Ds's school have a robust outdoors policy - they even warn parents about it. Uniform includes a waterproof coat with zipout fleece, and they have to have wellies and joggers in at all times. PE kit includes a thermal base layer. At playtime they are out unless it is really raining hard (any temperature), and games is outside whatever the weather.
I love this about them ! And the kids seem to thrive on it too - and there are very, very few overweight children in the school

[MrsBungleBear]

I know I sound like an old - I had to walk 15 miles to school and back - type but seriously.

When I was a kid in Scotland where it was bloody cold in the deep midwinter - we were never kept in at break. Rain, hail, snow etc we were outside. They are the break times I remember best, making ice 'runs' down the hill in the playground and everyone skating down them.

[exoticfruits]

As a supply teacher I went to a school where they were allowed inside when they liked-I couldn't get anything done at lunchtime and they were a nightmare in the afternoon-I never went back.

[lovebunny]

we've just got a new supply who tells us we're an amazing school as we let the children walk about inside in breaks and lunchtimes. if they're not causing trouble, they can be where they like. some rooms are open for activities but a lot of young people just like to walk about with their friends. they come into classrooms if they think our radiators are on.
don't know what's wrong with me but i'm offering a craft session on tuesday lunchtime, and will make it regular if people turn up. just while the weather is cold...

[whois]

Children were BU in not running around to keep warm. Of course they would be cold standing around.

Parents were BU in not sending gloves and hats in.

Teachers were being totally U. An hour of cold air for healthy kids does not harm them.

[clam]

When there's snow and ice, that's freezing! Man up, fgs some of you, and send 'em in with gloves and a hat.

[cumfy]

Hat and gloves.
It's not freezing.

[Sirzy]

I wish schools could afford wet weather gear for all DCs and then they could go out however wet! Unfortunately you can't send them out in pouring rain with inadequate clothing.

The nursery DS goes to provides waterproofs for the children when its wet which I think is great.

Its a shame schools can't reliably ask parents to provide something (even if they offer a second hand shop/swap shop aswell for those who would struggle otherwise) so that children always have appropriate clothes

[Idocrazythings]

If its a staffing issue I'd be happy as a Parent to go in once a week to volunteer to supervise?

[MushroomSoup]

I'm a primary head. We had torrential rain on Thursday - and I mean TORRENTIAL. The rain was bouncing off the ground and the playground was flooding.
Those who wanted to went out! I warn them they will be damp until they dry out but you'd be surprised how many went out. You'd be surprised how many had never been out in the rain.

[PopMusicShoobyDoobyDoA]

Children need to be outside playing, otherwise all that pent up energy starts exploding all over the classroom in not so constructive ways. Wet days are a nightmare, when they ave been cooped up all day.

And actually, windy days are nightmares too. Children and horses seem to get wild in the wind.