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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School taking kids out of class to sledge.

119 replies

QueenArseClangers · 28/02/2018 14:18

AIBU to think this is bloody marvellous?

Our fantastic infant school took nearly all the kids out sledging/snowman building/playing outside on the school field that has a slope on yesterday.
Makeshift sledges were constructed from bin bags and the kids all have school provided waterproofs.

Reading today about some schools not allowing children to play in the snow has made me appreciate our little school all the more. The head said she wants the kids to look back on their time at Infants and have happy memories Smile

OP posts:
MsAwesomeDragon · 28/02/2018 17:29

It is great! Dd2's school took them all out to build in the snow the last time we had snow (a few weeks ago). They've been shut today, but I know they'd have had them out building snow sculptures if they'd been able to open. It's great to have teachers who recognise how much fun snow is, and how important it is to enjoy something that happens so rarely.

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 28/02/2018 17:50

I think this is lovely! I have memories of a huge snowball fight in seniors as we had the first PE session of the day and a virgin snow on the playing field. It can be a lovely balance to swotting all day, at any age!

10storeylovesong · 28/02/2018 17:55

We arrived at my ds Ofsted outstanding school yesterday to find the teachers in the playground bombarding them with snowballs as they entered the playground. They spent a lesson in the morning on the field building snowmen. They were all told to bring wellies and warm clothing in advance. They were wrapped up warm and walked to the local library today (20-25 min walk). DS has loved every second!

Witchend · 28/02/2018 18:02

I think more parents would take their kids into school on these days if they were all like this.
I disagree. As many parents would say "no point taking them in, they don't learn anything anyway."

I would hope as well that the children could opt to stay inside if they are like dd1 and really find snow too much. Otherwise they look back at the infant school as somewhere where they were forced to go outside and freeze...

LizzieSiddal · 28/02/2018 18:05

Bloody brilliant.

I walked past our little infant school today. They were all in their bright red, “wet weather” suits, making snow angels!

It really made me smile.

PoptartPoptart · 28/02/2018 18:08

I agree.
However, it only takes one accident, a child hit in the face by a snowball with stones in, someone slips and breaks their arm/leg etc. Parents create a huge fuss and then it’s stopped due to health & safety.
Our SLT are so terrified of accidents and parental complaints that we don’t allow any outside play in the snow.
So sad for the kids.

Pengggwn · 28/02/2018 18:12

Of course they weren't learning. 'Outdoor science lesson' indeed! Grin

But that's okay, occasionally.

JumpingFrogs · 28/02/2018 18:12

My twins are 15, and thus morning they were reminiscing about the time they spent the whole morning on the school field in the snow (about 8 or 9 years ago!)

TheSconeOfStone · 28/02/2018 18:14

That sounds amazing! Our school closed so we went to the park for sledging. First snow in 7 years and kids completely hyper. They’ve waited a long time for it.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/02/2018 18:15

Yes I bet it's more for the teachers benefit than the kids!

DereksGotATail · 28/02/2018 18:16

Fantastic.
My dc school used to keep them in at break but then finish lessons half an hour early so all the kids could play on the field before going straight home.

Yellowshadeofgreen · 28/02/2018 18:17

Our have shut for 3 days, that is the stuff of memory making especially when my work closed later in the day too for the next 2 days.

Balonder · 28/02/2018 18:18

I teach in a small, rural school in Ireland. We took the children out for an hour today and had a snowman 'competition'. It was fun, involved teamwork, was an inspiration for fantastic creative free writing and the children will remember it. A well-spent hour in all.

memoryfoammattresstopper · 28/02/2018 18:20

Very few made it in this morning in my.kids school.

For the infants they had 2 classrooms open. 1 streaming CBeebies on iPlayer, the other one open for general choosing and the hall had all their little bikes and scooters in it.

For the juniors there was a staff v children snowball fight according to the oldest. 10 mins to prepare the ammo and then all hell got let loose. With hot chocolate afterwards.

Seeing as the headteacher is a big kid himself and firmly believes that sometimes fun comes before sums (his tagline to the parents) it doesnt surprise me in the slightest.

Fwiw the school usually comes very close to the top of the regional league tables so they must be doing something right.

Balonder · 28/02/2018 18:23

Yes I bet it's more for the teachers benefit than the kids! Absolutely not. It was cooooold. I would have been happier covering the work I had planned for
in a warm classroom but the benefit to the children was worth it.

pieceofpurplesky · 28/02/2018 18:24

I wish we could do this as high school but sadly 1200 kids from mottled Year 7s to fully grown 16 year olds would be a nightmare. Not enough ground to separate them so has to be a ban Hmm I totally get where the head is coming from though.

pieceofpurplesky · 28/02/2018 18:24

Mottled? Little

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 28/02/2018 18:25

I love this!

I teach Reception and lost managed to get into school today, including my own DCs (one of whom I dragged to school on a sledge). It's lovely to see and hear children enjoying themselves in the snow.

beasternunny · 28/02/2018 18:27

Here in Denmark each school has it's own 'kælkebakken' (sledging hill) in the school field. Kids can just take in their sledges when it's a snowy day and in break time and lunch time use the hill at will. It's fab. We're a bit more free and easy on the H&S front here, mind.

creamcheeseandlox · 28/02/2018 18:33

My two were at school today and I said to my ds teacher (year 1) "shall I put his wellies in a plastic bag so they don't get mixed up" she replied "no, I'm taking them out in it in 5 minutes". They all went out and built snowmen and igloos. Small village school....the kids had a great day.

tryingtobethebestican · 28/02/2018 18:37

At our school they are all allowed out at break and lunch times when it's snowing and today were making snowmen - they loved it! There are enough staff to supervise and it's great for them to enjoy the snow - we don't get it that often!

Spangles1963V · 28/02/2018 18:41

I honestly thought this was going to be a complaint,to which I would have said,it's a once in a blue moon occurrence,make the most of the snow while it's here! Nice to be wrong in this case!

Tidy2018 · 28/02/2018 18:51

Some of you have lovely schools. Ours put on wellies, hats and gloves of their own accord this morning, thrilled to see very rare snow lying and not turning immediately to slush. School closed early at half-one, and they were so disappointed to have been kept in all day.

gttia · 28/02/2018 18:52

Sounds great fun!!

FallenAngel89 · 28/02/2018 18:57

Most of the children didn't go in today and for the ones who did the teachers took them out for snowball fights and to build snowmen! I thought it was awesome for them to do with them and didn't make them feel left out for going to school Smile