School break times when raining, is this normal ?

[likecherrycola]

Hi I am a long term lurker but never brave enough to post but need some opinions on this. My dd is in P1 and basically when it is wet or raining outside the children have to sit silently with the heads on their desks , this goes for break and lunch time. Is this normal ? it seems very ott to me , I thought maybe some colouring in etc would be more "normal". Would ibu to discuss with the teacher ? I know the other p1 class is the same so maybe its the whole school but it seems cruel especially since we live in scotland and it rains alot.

Are you reluctant to approach the school for some reason?

If I'd heard this from my own child I would have presumed she was exaggerating. I would have checked with another parent and, if they too had been told the same, I would have had a word with the teacher.

Probably would have said something along the lines of: "Can you just clarify what happens at wet play please?" and take it from there.
If the conversation confirmed that a WHOLE wet play had taken place with the children's heads on the desk I would back away slowly from the teacher and seek an appointment with the Head immediately. If the Head also deemed this acceptable behaviour, I would be straight on to the education department. And then look for another school!

Be really interested to hear an update on this.

There's a game called ' Head down,thumbs up' that you play that starts like this. Could it be this and it's not been explained to her properly?

I don't think it's appropriate to make young children sit in silence when it's raining. I'd take this up with the school.

Blimey - heads on desks was what we used to do!

Very odd.

Mine had wet play boxes - everyone used to contribute comics etc, colouring in, puzzles etc. Still boring but less so. But actually going out in rain unless teeming down

They have no play corner, dressing up or lego in p1????

OP that is really, really odd. Do they have golden time? Is there play equipment for outdoor play?

Look, I don't want to spook you but my spidey senses are tingling here. There is a lot of 'play' in p1 and for that to happen there has to be stuff to play with. What's their most recent care commission report? If good, has there been regime change, eg new HT since the report was done? Is it up to date (in Scotland there can sometimes be up to 7 years between reports which is of course a whole life in school terms).

claraschu Sounds like the right idea that would be prefect especially since it rains so often.

foragoodfriend I am if im honest so far any discussions with teacher or the head have ended with nothing being resolved. First run in I had was because of dd being punished on her 2nd day at the school for not listening when teacher called her ( teacher had been calling her the wrong name ) easy mistake but dd missed break time and golden time for it and it seemed a bit much especially since when dd realised it was her she wanted she done as she was told , teacher also suggested a behaviour chart at school for this incident I was not happy at all , luckily she backed down with that idea and dd has not been in trouble since.
I did pressume she was exaggerating. but the fact other kids have told their parents the exact same is very worrying. I will update after school today when I speak to the teacher.

ladymalfoy that was my intial thought when she told me but no defienetly not just sit with heads on their desk in total silence.

Viviennemary Its not is it glad we will atleat be able to deal with it now instead of whole winter spent with her head on her desk.

RatherBeOnThePiste Thats a great idea tempted to suggest that to teacher as an alternative.

WilsonFrickett no play this in class except pens i they count and jigsaws. No play equitment outside and not allowed to bring in skipping ropes or balls. They do have golden time though for an hour on a friday and they can bring in 1 toy for it. They got a very good from hmie for everything (same as ofsted i think) in 2011 so a few years ago, the head has only been there since last year so maybe that explains the changes.
Its a shame as other catchment school got poor hmie reports but her friends that attend it seem much happier wish I hadnt but so much bearing on the reports.

To those doubting, it happened in my school!

Strumpetron its terrible, did your school have any reason for it?

This is awful

And you chose this school because....??

OP if you are really worried about this why haven't you called the school yet instead of surmising about it on here?

If you are in Glasgow, and not Catholic, why did you not send your DD to the catchment non-denominational school.

When I have been in Catholic secondary schools on Glasgow they have been pretty hard core catholic, Friday mass, crucifixion pictures on the walls etc.

I am not at all surprised your daughter was told only Catholics go to heaven. She is at a Catholic school and a significant amount of time will be spent on instruction in the Catholic faith.

If this is genuinely happening every wet play there is something very wrong !

But I can think of numerous examples eg quiet listening to some classical music that they are going to make up a story about, listening games, heads down thumbs up, or the teacher may occasionally even say if you don't want to read/draw/do a puzzle just have a little rest!

Ours go out in all weathers and the LOs have all-in-one waterproof suits and wellies so they are out every single day in lesson time as well as breaks.

No, not at all normal. I'd expect colouring in, reading, some quiet toys and so on at that age.

clam the hmie report was great and we had heard good things about it , also on the visits before we choose it it seemed really good.

littlewhitebag I have called and receptionist isnt sure what her classes rainy day protocall is she advised asking teacher directly. The receptionists are nice but not the most helpfull . I will see teacher today though and take it from there. And to be honest very little me talking to them will achieve I will try get other concerned parents to speak to them too.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine I am catholic and dd will be very soon , she was going to be baptised but things got in the way of it and never seemed like a good time to do it, dd 2 is due in febuary so will get the 2 of them baptised together. I dont agree with telling 4 year old that they wont go to heaven seems pretty harsh and unessecerary and I went to catholic primary and secondary school.

phantomnamechanger I really hope its a missunderstanding but its seems to fit in with the schools ways.

octopusinastringbag dd would love to colour in or draw would entertain her for ages.

moldingsunbeams same as me my primary was strict catholic but was never told that and I can see how it can be upsetting for a child.

This all sounds bizarre, how can the receptionist not know what the children do when it's raining?

Although I don't have any experience of catholic or Scottish schools I can't see how a school with no play equipment can possibly get a positive inspection report.

I don't often say this but if what you've been told turns out to be true I'd be looking to change schools as soon as possible.

P1 is the equivalent to FS2 in England, no?

I would be very concerned about a school with no dressing up, home corner, lego, water or sand play...

Every FS2 classroom I have ever been in has had loads of those things. What do they do all day? Here FS2/reception is all about learning through play. It sounds very odd OP. Is a total lack of play equipment in the first year of school usual in Scotland??

TBH my DCs' school still had home corner/some toys in year 1 as well.

lborolass receptionist says it can differ from class to class and best to ask teacher.

The play equitment thing I though was normal, its a while back now but my primary had nothing like that and neither does dn's.
I am hoping its all a missunderstanding.

If this is true, and I believe it will be, please move her school. I went to a catholic primary and secondary in Glasgow area and it had a massive effect on me. I still sometimes experience panic at remembering things that I was told. My dad wasn't catholic and I used to lie awake in fear that I would never see him again when I died.

Secondary was even more horrifying, our sex ed was to watch a video of a real abortion (vacuum type). The teacher had to stand in front of the tv at one part as it was deemed unsuitable. I can't imagine what was on it if it was worse than the rest of it! My mum consented to me watching it, I still struggle to get my head around this, more so now I have DC.

This wasn't even that long ago, I'm not even 30.

clary See I thought that was normal my primary had nothing like that and niether does the other catchment school. As far as I know they just learn and have some games they play, like letter bingo but mostly do work.

Igloofornow dh isnt catholic either and her grandada non catholic had just passed away when she was told this so even more upsetting.
I remember the abortion video in secondary too guessing it would be same video , very traumatic too watch. I hope they dont still show that.