Kids and schools ' sports week' in this heat.. im wanting to complain to the head, but abiu

[watchforthesnail]

Its very hot, we all know that.

This week we have had sports day, which is a whole day activity ( with parents) from 10am till 3pm. Out in the sports field with no shelter.

Today, they have had a ' maraton' which was 26 0.5 k laps, again in full sun. Parents were asked to come if they wanted and its a good job they did as the only water provided for the whole school were 4 or 5 jugs of warm water, again, no shade. The teachers were double ticking for each lap for each child in a bid to get it over with quicker, but still, in this heat, farcical.

We now find out, on top of this maraton, there is an afternoon of races, again, sat in the full sun, with no water ( or just a small cup of)

I cant believe its all going ahead, and its frankly ridiclous in a 28degree heat.

So - do i need to get a grip, or should i email and complain? or just go grab my child out of school?

( shes 7 )

That might seem a little petty, I would just concentrate on the risk to the children and the reason why the teachers were not there. Is there a parent governor you could ring up or email about the park days. The info should be on school web site.

You need to send it to a governor not the head.

there is no link for them on the schools website, ive just looked.

Can you ring your county council to find out who the parent governor is. Or maybe another parent knows.

The only other thing I can suggest is to email the local authority.

I do know who they are, i just have no contact details for them. Theres literally nothing on the school website. ive emailed a few people and hope someone will know.

At my gd's school they have an online prospectus with all the governors named

OK I wish you luck and let us know the outcome.

Dear HT

I attach the advice from Public Health England www.gov.uk/government/news/level-3-heatwave-alert-issued-for-london-and-the-south-east
(or equivalent body if you are in another country). It includes the following key public health messages:

"try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
if you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat
avoid physical exertion
wear light, loose fitting cotton clothes
drink plenty of cold drinks
if you have a health problem, keep medicines below 25 °C or in the refrigerator
look out for others especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses
never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals"

Your sports day contravened most of these public health messages. I would like copies of the risk assessment you undertook, and the professional advice you relied upon, when you decided to ignore official guidance. I would also like to be notified of any activities my child will be exposed to in future that directly contravene official and well publicised health and safety advice as I am withdrawing consent for any such events now.

cc Chair of govs and local public health dept

Hmmm this sounds very familiar, think your DD might go to the same school as my DC.

Gosh tiredaftertwo that is brilliant, much better than mine.

plopsicle, ill pm you. if it is, complain too :)

tired, that is amazing, i shall use that.
thank you

Dont mention the PE teacher but do include the weather warning.

have pmd you x

Thanks

I have had a couple of similar run ins and found quoting official advice v useful.

It makes me furious - there is no reason for this, no benefit to anyone, and it could make children ill and will certainly teach them bad habits (ignore standard health advice, run around in the midday sun). And the school undoubtedly has 'Healthy Living' or some such as a topic in PSHE, when it points the children at info from bodies like Public Health England.

If the access to water was so limited what kind of provision for sunscreen was being made were kids sent to school with it on? Would they have been able to top it up? Who would have been supervising none of the children were at risk of getting burnt or dehydrated in the absence of teachers since the PE teacher was entertaining herself.

there wasnt any sunscreen provision.

DD told me she put some on, but did it quickly as they had no time.

just really badly though out, and no provison for the exceptional weather

Off topic OP But you really have made me smile with the umbridge youve taken with the lycra clad woman How very dare she?

The sports event today sounds madness. Regardless of whether it is too far for them to be running. And in this weather they need water and shade as a matter of course.

Are you sure the teachers have gone home though? That would be very odd. Even if not out on the field they should be around surely?

Re the park day - the risk assessment should be done It has to be done for all visits out of school. FWIW we do take our children (infants so younger than 7y often) to the public park for various events/activities. Yes, there are non school people there but we have a risk assessment and enough adults to supervise the children safely. We wouldn't go for a full day in the sun in the current heat tbh - too hot for the teachers to be working in it let alone the children anyway - but it is not necessarily a safety risk to be at a public place.

What you described, OP, as a sports/activity agenda for primary school for 3 days in this heat, sounds bonkers.

Schools can still do something smaller, perhaps for an hour or two, which is more than enough in this weather. Or they could go to a park and sit in the shade and have a nice picnic (my son will be doing that) if they want to be outside longer.

I would raise it with the school in the manner described by others, formally. And I would be interested in the outcome.

My DC have had 'sports week' as well.Every day this week outside all day