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

If one child doesn't have wellies, then no-one can go on the field because we can't supervise inside and out at the same time.

Actually, that does sound a bit daft. What do you do if a child isn't allowed out for, say, a broken limb? Who supervises then? Or can you not swap around cover? Say, have a couple of teachers out and another in with those who don't have coats/boots? The adult/child ratios would be no worse than a normal playtime.

And you're never going to have all 30 kids properly equipped with boots etc..

We only have a small group of kids (less than 20). As such, not many staff.

The situation of a broken legged child hasn't arisen yet. But I assume he/she would be able to go outside. If a child really couldn't go out then maybe they could have breaks in the office.

But the rule for icyness is wellies or indoors.

It’s not a case of people suing. It’s a case of not wanting children to break their limbs.

What do you do if a child isn't allowed out for, say, a broken limb? Who supervises then?

Said child can sit in the office with the secretary, who has their break at a different time - in my school anyway. They might have a friend in with them for company. That's not difficult to supervise.

Having inside and outside break would mean that more staff would need to be on duty and teachers would miss their own break times more than is actually needed.

My DC1 is being kept in because of an injury. One or two children sitting quietly with a book is quite different (from a supervisory point of view) from having the entire class indoors.

Gladrags said that if just one child didn't have boots, then no one in the entire class could go out. My post was in answer to that, primarily. And even a couple of children could easily be covered indoors, meaning the rest could go out.

Child being unable to go out due a medical condition is different and it's reasonable to ask a staff member to give up their break in that situation.

Children not bringing in wellies when asked...well that's up to the parents. Staff shouldn't have to give up breaks in that situation.

In our school the staff are run ragged as it is.

I’m a trainee teacher and keeping the children indoors at break time is pretty horrific for all involved...

If they really aren’t going outside then there must be a reason - no teacher wants the children inside at break time

We had snow days on the first two days last week and then the last three days of the week the children weren't allowed for playtimes. Believe me, a classroom of 30 children who haven't been out all day, on top of the Christmas hysteria, is not a fun thing to endure all week. It certainly wouldn't have been the teacher's choice!! Coupled with the fact that when it is wet play, the teacher effectively loses their break/lunch time as they have to supervise their class. Not fun.

@Nobodyknowstiddlypom - we had that as well; 2 snow days, 3 days of indoor play. My DCs were coming home bouncing off the walls so you have my sympathies.

In my local area a child slipped on ice, landed on her head and died a few years ago. That is the reason our children stay in when it is icy.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8462009.stm

Granddaughter's Kindergarten and School have wet weather gear as a compulsory part of school kit. They are out in any weather unless it's actually dangerous, ice for example, certainly heavy rain never stops them.