To email Head Teacher about children being kept inside all week?

[mrsvilliers2]

Can't decide if am BU or not. It's an infant school and ds told me that they have had to watch a film for break and lunch for the past week. The first two days I understand (lots of snow and ice) but the last two the playground was clear and not slippy. Dd was allowed out in nursery (same school but different play area). My problem is ds is a child that need to be run

Hey, as I’ve said, I concede- it has been comprehensively demonstrated that it is impossible that children be allowed to play outside in ice and snow.

fair enough. I am a big believer in do as the locals do and I am sorry if I made anyone cross or upset by questioning this orthodoxy

Out of curiosity, what is grit made of in England such that it has a finite shelf life? Is it made of organic material that rots?

Normally I would agree with you and think they should be outside as much as possible, but although it has cleared quite a lot here it is still very icy and DS2 managed to slip at lunchtime yesterday, has scraped his face, a huge bump on his forehead and broken his glasses!

why would you not do something about the ice, like grit it to make it less slippery?

To be fair, these kinds of weather conditions are not regular enough in the UK for schools to bother with having grit available, plus it's traditional to be completely unprepared for snow and ice in the UK

I just think it is odd not to try and exercise children during the school day. A bit of a run in the sports hall perhaps?

Agree with that, maybe you could suggest something nicely to the teacher/head? Obviously can't have all the school in the sports hall but something that can be done in the classroom or alternate turns in the sports hall.
In DD's class they have prepared 'exercise dice' for each child (giant dice made out of milk cartons with different activities on each side like star jumps or running on the spot) so that when they have inside play (when it's colder than -15!) they do inside exercise using the dice.

Are you being deliberately obtuse, Madge? No one has said it's impossible for kids to go outside in snow. Lots of schools encourage outside play in "the right kind" of snow (for those kids whose parents have sent in in appropriate clothing) but this week's snow hasn't been so suitable, as it's been the ice on pathways and playgrounds that's been the issue.

Crazy idea but you could just let the teachers do their job without chiming in for every little thing? If every parent was contacting the school like you are for petty things like this they would be overrun with complaints and having to defend every decision they make. And you wonder why teachers are leaving the profession by the bucketload...

No class teacher should be expected to miss their own break and stay in their classroom to run games. It would work if you had the oldest class come down to supervise/play them with little ones, and have the teacher on duty stick their head in the door on a walk around.

I use GoNoodle with my class for inside breaks myself.

I think there is waaaay too much ‘elf n safety’ in schools but I get that due to precious parents potentially suing over little Johnny slipping over, then that’s the way it is unfortunately.

I feel much the same as you op tbh. Aside from just running, being outdoors has so many benefits and all being cooped up inside all week is not nice. The germs that are prevalent atm, will just increase tenfold by the children all being together like at break/ lunchtimes etc

My DS school will put two classes into one in situations like this- it literally is like sardines in a tin.

I hate it but as I said before, it’s all to do with ‘elf n safety’ which has quite frankly, gone utterly bonkers.

Pisses me off when people recommend "suggesting" helpful little tips to Head Teachers like, "why not use the hall for PE?" As if they would never have thought of that without the help.

Most school halls, particularly at this time of year are either staged up for Christmas nativities, or used for lunch tables or whatever.

I still really want to know why grit has a finite shelf life

*MadgeMidgerson

Out of curiosity, what is grit made of in England such that it has a finite shelf life? Is it made of organic material that rots?*

Well I'm not sure if salt is organic or not, but it's never held up well under sustained moisture.

I've no idea about the shelf-life of grit, but as I said earlier, we ran out of grit in our place and had to wait for a delivery.

Most school halls, particularly at this time of year are either staged up for Christmas nativities, or used for lunch tables or whatever.

Bingo. Besides, I can just imagine the MN complaining if the kids missed lesson time for a gallop about in the hall.

Tbh at this time of year it's difficult enough as it is to get everything done without having to factor in this too.

maybe the salt could be kept in an enclosed space to reduce exposure to moisture

but also maybe it is a different kind of salt here?

Another helpful little tip. Whoever would have thought of covering grit up?

You're MadgeMidgerson

I'm penning a letter to my local council now, demanding that they build and pay for unlimited salt storage year round on the basis that some playgrounds may need extra grit for a week or two a year. Can't possibly think of a better use for my council tax.

Local schools are the same, but only thanks to the parents who insist on driving to school and send their kids without a coat and decent footwear! Yes, we had snow and ice here too.

The schools have huge fields, so enough space to run around safely, but because of a few muppets, entire classes are locked indoors.

The school is constantly begging for appropriate clothing and footwear, reminders are forever being sent about leaving their boots at school (or bring them everyday, no one cares as long as they are there), but some kids are still missing out.

If you are the parent who insist on sending your child to school without a coat, hat and scarf and without wellies or snow boots, yes I judge loudly. You are being ridiculous.

A bit of a run in the sports hall perhaps?

Some difficulties immediately jump to mind: many schools only have one hall and that is probably used over lunchtime for eating lunch, my school has 600+ children so even taking turns in the gym would not be feasible, unless you literally let each class run around like mad for three minutes and then swap over.

We don't keep the whole class in if some haven't got appropriate clothing. We take out those who are equipped and I'm afraid the others have to stay inside.

Of course, we then get complaints from their parents for "making them miss out."

Ok, I give up. Grit cannot be stored, or covered up (even though apparently it is?).

You are right. No one could ever predict that there would be ice in the winter and prepare accordingly.

It is impossible.

Oh do fuck off with your sarcasm, madge.

We don't keep the whole class in if some haven't got appropriate clothing. We take out those who are equipped and I'm afraid the others have to stay inside.
So who supervises the children who stay inside?

Grit doesn't have a finite shelf life. But many schools are running such exceptionally tight budgets following the budget cuts that they can't afford to pay caretakers extra money to spend hours each day gritting all parts of the school grounds, whereas they can postpone other work to make time to clear safe paths in and out.

Grit costs money. Schools can't afford to spend hundreds of pounds on buying enough grit to clear a whole playground.

Schools have to be able to ensure that children have no access to icy areas, because of the safety risk- children and staff can and do slip on ice, and schools cannot take the risk of being cavalier about safety. In countries where ice and snow are the norm, I expect children turn up to school in suitable winter footwear and outdoor clothing, rather than dolly shoes and knock-off Uggs.

The school hall is in use over lunchtime, as children eat lunch in there. School halls are rarely big enough to accommodate all the children running around at the same time, and at this time of year there are so many nativity performance, carol services etc that it's impossible to schedule staggered breaks.

Teachers really would prefer children to go out to play if at all possible. It's no fun for anyone when they stay in all day- but safety has to come first.

Oh do fuck off with your sarcasm, madge

Bit harsh fit bit, Madge is clearly right. There's no reason not to store the massive quantities of grit that might be need for a couple of weeks a year, even though the chances of it all being used are low. Who needs their bins emptying when we can be paying for grit storage instead?

I, for one, am #humbled to be in the presence of such intellect.

Maybe the school year could be rejigged so that the main holiday is over the winter, just in case of inclement weather