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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect my child's coat on in this weather?

52 replies

Cadenza1818 · 12/01/2015 15:55

My twins have not long turned 5. They're pretty independent and at home dress themselves without bother. I'm getting fed up though of them.coming out of school with no coat on. I know a teacher can't do up 15 coats but couldn't she at least encourage a bit more? Plus u was 5mins late today so they were soaked. I know ow it wont kill them but feeling precious!

OP posts:
wheresthelight · 12/01/2015 15:58

how do you know they weren't encouraged and chose to ignore her?

fredfredgeorgejnr · 12/01/2015 16:01

They'll get cold, and put a coat on. YABU to expect the teacher to do anything when they're leaving school to your care.

littleducks · 12/01/2015 16:04

Surely they can just put them on when they come out if its cold?

urbanturban · 12/01/2015 16:08

I'm with you OP-at that age, little ones should be 'encouraged' (i.e. MADE Grin) to put coats on in this weather-it's not unreasonable to ask that teachers/assistants take 5 extra mins at home time to facilitate this.

My DM was an infant teacher and always made sure to set aside that extra 5 mins in autumn/winter to do this.

BathtimeFunkster · 12/01/2015 16:11

YANBU

I thought this was standard.

Timeforabiscuit · 12/01/2015 16:15

Are they in reception or year 1?

Reception have always come out bundled up, but the year 1 are left to get on with it slightly more.

Then its the never ending litany of where's your bag, that doesn't look like your jumper, why are your shoes on the wrong feet? Confused

CatsClaus · 12/01/2015 16:19

they'd have to start after lunch to get a class of reception into their coats in time for hometime!

They'll put their coats on soon enough if they are cold....and why can't the OP say to them? Again they'll soon be on if it starts to rain on the walk home.

caravanista13 · 12/01/2015 16:21

If children are cold they'll put coats on. It's not a parent's or a teacher's job to make them.

Skatingfastonthinice · 12/01/2015 16:22

Reception should come out done up like little sausages wit hats in bad weather. Not coatless. It doesn't take that long if the teacher is organised and there's a bit of peer support.

Skatingfastonthinice · 12/01/2015 16:23

Every school I've ever taught in has seen it as something that reception needs to learn with support. Yes to Y1 being independent, but not YR. Not yet. Still getting there.

WooWooOwl · 12/01/2015 16:24

If they are pretty independent at home then there's no reason why they couldn't have out their own coats on.

Did other children have coats on, or were they all coatless?

Willferrellisactuallykindahot · 12/01/2015 16:24

I have never taught reception, but I know further up the school we constantly tell the kids to make sure they put their coats on, including announcements in assembly etc, and still, every playtime some kids come out with no bloody jumper on, let alone coat!

I think sometimes after a long day, teachers choose their battles and possibly just think 'do you know what, the parent can do it' - surely in the few seconds it takes for them to get from the school building to you they are not going to die of hypothermia?

Coyoacan · 12/01/2015 16:28

I'm surprised that some people don't think the teacher has a duty of care when it comes to five year olds.

It's a long time since I've had a child of that age, but I worked in a summer school and we had to make sure older children than that didn't get sunburn, etc.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 12/01/2015 16:29

I'm a TA in reception, we always make sure they've got their coats on before the door is opened.

CatsClaus · 12/01/2015 16:33

I think teachers are busy saving their duty of care for children who have no clean pants or coats, never mind zipping up, gloving, hatting and scarfing every child in the classroom who are likely as not getting into a car not 50yds down the road

this really is such a non issue, OP needs to tell her children, not the school

ChristmasEva50 · 12/01/2015 16:33

Tell them they will get a reward every day they come out with their coats on. They will soon do it.

fredfredgeorgejnr · 12/01/2015 16:33

Coyoacan The children are being handed over to the parents as they come out the door, yes if they were leaving children who may not be able to put on their own coats out in the rain for hours then they would. Here the situation is the end of the day where they are being handed over to the parent.

There's a big difference.

Skatingfastonthinice · 12/01/2015 16:33

I remember walking in with my Y6 class and being accosted by a YR child trapped in their coat. No head visible and he was bouncing off walls and passers-by yelling 'HELP! and BAD COAT! like a possessed green caterpillar.
He was very clear about the inadequacies of his mummy who had bought him the wrong coat with a zip he couldn't undo instead of toggles which he could.
I was crying by the end of his stand-up routine.
Yes, duty of care. Takes 10/15 minutes to do the coats of a YR class barring carnivorous clothing, and by the time they get to Y1 they are mostly independent

Skatingfastonthinice · 12/01/2015 16:35

This parent was late and her 5 year olds were soaked. That's not good.

RiverTam · 12/01/2015 16:36

DD always had her coat on when she comes out, and I think most of them do, though some have them on superhero-style, just hanging off their heads from the hood. But DD takes hers off pretty quickly, she seems to know if she's hot or cold, and so far I really can't be bothered to argue with her - for all I know she is hot! And she'll put it back on when she's cold.

I don't really get why it's a problem - they come out, you give them a hug and a snack and get them in their coats if they're cold.

ChristmasEva50 · 12/01/2015 16:38

Not all schools hand them over. Ours make their own way from the classroom to the gate.

meglet · 12/01/2015 16:40

yabu. If it's cold or wet they can put them on themselves

we're not talking about tiddly preschoolers here. teachers have got enough to do.

Aherdofmims · 12/01/2015 16:43

5 year olds can be bloody stupid so I say Yanbu.

BathtimeFunkster · 12/01/2015 16:45

I'm glad my children are at a school where the pupils have their coats on when they come out.

My child isn't quite 5 and still needs a bit of help, and I'm glad she gets it and isn't sent out to me with no coat in this weather.

Original poster
Cadenza1818 · 12/01/2015 16:54

True to the poster that they maybe been encouraged, they're not angels!
I'm less bothered if it's Cold to be honest but today was tipping down and like I say I was late. I am thinking they need simpler coats though. I got lovely 3 in 1 waterproofs but clearly a bit faffy.
Ps i don't drive and we live rurally and have to walk a fair way home.
Pps let's be honest here I didn't want to have to do up two kids coats in the rain...what is it with zips under pressure?!? Smile

OP posts: