To expect a window and fresh air circulating in dd's Pre-school classroom

[Tillyboo]

DD is at a pre-school attached to a fee paying private school and has just been moved out of the nursery classrooms which were bright, light and airy with plenty of windows and fresh air in the warmer weather.

The classroom she has been moved into is above her old classroom and is like an attic room. There is no natural light, only that which comes in via a window overlooking her old classroom (but they have paintings and pictures stuck to these windows, probably to distract the children from waving down at the younger children below).

It's a small classroom and has no air con in the summer months.
The teachers are unhappy themselves about the conditions and encourage parents to complain to the principle of the school.

I was told today that something is being done about the situation but the teacher didn't know what or when this would happen.

We are told that the children move around the school and spend as little time as possible in this classroom i.e. have stories in the library, use the IT suite to play on the computers, use the cookery classroom for cooking, paint outside in the garden patio, go for walks in the grounds, use the gym hall for PE etc.

This issue remains from last year when lots of parents complained then.

My dh and I have asked to see the principle to discuss the situation but haven't had an appointment through yet.

One of the other mums wants to put notes in all the childrens drawers to drum up support & encourage the parents to complain too but I'm not sure it's such a good idea.

If you have been advised that the situation will change, then I think 'hang fire' and wait a while.

YANBU to expect that at all but I think you have to allow the school to make the necessary adjustments, it may not be as straightforward for them as you believe. You know they are not in the room all day so I think if I were in your situation then I would write a letter to the head, asking when things are likely to change as you do not think it a healthy environment for young children.

Doesn't sound ideal (understatement). Presumably there is no where else to put them - are you paying for this?

Yes we are paying.

I tend to feel that the school has had over a year to sort this situation out and were told at our introduction to the school that 'money was no object' as far as improvements etc. were concerned (it was an old girls school before and in need of some tlc I believe).

The teaching staff are lovely and are totally in agreement that it needs to be resolved so we'll have to wait and see what the principle say's to us.

Over a year at a fee paying school where money is no object?

Yes, in that case I think you have every right to complain, quite vociferously in fact