Very cold classrooms

[ZolaGrey]

My 10 year older daughter just got in the car after school and she is frozen, her lips are chapped and her fingers are freezing.

It turns out that the school have decided not to heat the classrooms and that all doors and windows have to be open all the time, it's been around 3-6° all day here. She's had her coat on all day.

I've said that she could take a hoodie or similar in tomorrow but she said they're not allowed as it's not uniform, they have however been told they can wear hats, scarves and fingerless gloves in the classroom

I would imagine that if I kept my house unheated, with all the doors and windows open all the time that I would be accused of some kind of neglect.

Am I right to be unhappy about the set up? I'm a bit over stressed at the minute so I'm not sure how reasoned my reactions are to things currently!

How are everybody else's school approaching this? Has anybody had any logics information to back up this approach?

I disagree about buses, there is no through breeze at all and it makes them a really nerve-wracking place to be especially as it's really hard for the driver to keep to numbers allowed. Our school has also told kids to wear layers and an extra plain T shirt under the school shirt.

Now is absolutely not the time to be insisting on uniform regulations, how ridiculous.

We have the heating on, but windows open in my workplace. And proper thermals are a god send.

Makes sense to relax the uniform requirements. I would be asking them to do this. My kids are at a private school and they’ve relaxed uniform requirements so that clothes can be washed more frequently.

Loads of thermal layers and thermal tights. Wrist warmers?

As a teacher I really want the ventilation so I just ask my class to wrap up! I’m senior school though. I wear plenty layers and am fine (Scotland).

@ZolaGrey

My 10 year older daughter just got in the car after school and she is frozen, her lips are chapped and her fingers are freezing.

It turns out that the school have decided not to heat the classrooms and that all doors and windows have to be open all the time, it's been around 3-6° all day here. She's had her coat on all day.

I've said that she could take a hoodie or similar in tomorrow but she said they're not allowed as it's not uniform, they have however been told they can wear hats, scarves and fingerless gloves in the classroom

I would imagine that if I kept my house unheated, with all the doors and windows open all the time that I would be accused of some kind of neglect.

Am I right to be unhappy about the set up? I'm a bit over stressed at the minute so I'm not sure how reasoned my reactions are to things currently!

How are everybody else's school approaching this? Has anybody had any logics information to back up this approach?

I work in a school and that is mad. We have the heating on although windows and doors open for air

I go to a college part time to study and the windows are open. It’s been freezing on a couple of occasions. The teacher said although they can’t shut the windows, we can. So we shut the windows. It’s too cold. Even with a T-shirt, jumper and coat on.

It’s the same everywhere. Get her some long sleeved thermal vests and thermal leggings to go under long sleeved polo shirts and school trousers. Thermal socks. Fingerless gloves, thermal hat, buff.

Salty agree, why waste energy, insisting on uniform standards in the middle of a pandemic.

Our school have been told we don't HAVE to have the windows open now it's getting colder. However, studies seem to show that ventilation is the single best thing you can do to reduce the spread in settings like schools - better than masks, better than distancing. So the teacher and work with and I have decided to keep windows open as long as we can. The heating is on full blast too, and I don't find it cold at all - my desk is right by the open window (and, admittedly, right by the radiator) and I frequently have to take my cardigan off because I'm too hot. We are letting children wear whatever they need to to be a comfortable temperature - coats, gloves, non-school uniform jumpers. And there are still children in short sleeve shirts who insist they're way too warm to put a jumper on.

@GetTheGoodLookingGuy

Our school have been told we don't HAVE to have the windows open now it's getting colder. However, studies seem to show that ventilation is the single best thing you can do to reduce the spread in settings like schools - better than masks, better than distancing. So the teacher and work with and I have decided to keep windows open as long as we can. The heating is on full blast too, and I don't find it cold at all - my desk is right by the open window (and, admittedly, right by the radiator) and I frequently have to take my cardigan off because I'm too hot. We are letting children wear whatever they need to to be a comfortable temperature - coats, gloves, non-school uniform jumpers. And there are still children in short sleeve shirts who insist they're way too warm to put a jumper on.

Heating on makes a massive difference. At least it does in my classroom .

I'm a teacher. My classroom windows are open, my choice because I have a few risk factors rather than the school's requirement (heatings on but no point really with the windows open). Some of the students aren't happy, but it's that or I'm teaching online. Some say they'd rather be in school with windows open than have online lessons.

I would email the school, explaining politely (more likely the head will pay attention that way) and explain uniform and a coat aren't enough.

Or you could layer her up under the uniform and also give a hoody to go on between the uniform and her coat. Once the coats on it won't show.

Although I'm scared, putting myself at risk, I understand children need to be in the classroom. This is very much a compromise situation.

I am surprised at how cold it appears to be for some people. Even before we had the heating on noone was particularly cold in our school. There was more moaning from the adults than the kids.
That said a sensible approach about layers and uniform is needed. We all need to get through this by using common sense and not allowing hoodies is bizarre.

We have been told to get layer up and stick to the uniform as much as possible, but that it’s fine once the weather gets colder to add on extra jumpers/hoodies etc

I have my heating on right now, I'm lovely and warm and also have a pleasant burst every now and then of fresh air..

It's like being in the car with the air conditioner on and to begin with the windows open...

You can have both. There is a balance.
It's very possible to have heating on, takes the edge off the cold and also have windows open.

@Paul72 - I'm pleased that our local bus drivers have seen sense and all the windows are now closed on the buses)

Why is that sensible?? Windows are supposed to be open to aid air flow and circulation. 🙄

Windows closed on a bus seems like madness to me.

@movingonup20

Ps my local high school has offered school hoodies for the kids - has the cute covid 19 emoji thing on it and designed overall by one of the kids, they look smart (black) and warm, sold at cost (£10) and given to fsm/low income

Cute! 😂

I am a teacher. I wear a vest and short sleeved top with a cardi most days. I usually take the cardi off during lessons. Being in a room with 30 other people when it really isn't that cold yet, I would be extremely uncomfortable in some of the set ups mentioned here. I'd be far too hot in a coat, let alone thermals, scarves and fingerless gloves!
My own kids are just in normal uniform at the mo. They haven't complained of cold yet, but when they do I will put a vest on them under their polo shirt. If it's freezing they could wear tights under trousers.
I did buy my daughter boots instead of those open school shoes though, so her feet don't get wet.

Im freezing all day and have been since mid September. Ive bought long sleeved tops to go under all my dresses. And fingerless gloves.

I keep telling the students to layer up. But teenagers dont often like to do that.

I have been sending mine in fleeces. Didn't even cross my mind to abide by uniform rules. So far noone has mentioned anything.

@DipSwimSwoosh

I am a teacher. I wear a vest and short sleeved top with a cardi most days. I usually take the cardi off during lessons. Being in a room with 30 other people when it really isn't that cold yet, I would be extremely uncomfortable in some of the set ups mentioned here. I'd be far too hot in a coat, let alone thermals, scarves and fingerless gloves! My own kids are just in normal uniform at the mo. They haven't complained of cold yet, but when they do I will put a vest on them under their polo shirt. If it's freezing they could wear tights under trousers. I did buy my daughter boots instead of those open school shoes though, so her feet don't get wet.

Is the heating on ?

@Paul72

I'm surprised that it is legal to ask the teacher to work in those temperatures. I thought there were minimum temperatures required in the workplace. It sounds terrible for your daughter. (I'm pleased that our local bus drivers have seen sense and all the windows are now closed on the buses)

That is only sense if you want to sit in a fug full of diseased aerosols and catch a nasty dose of coronavirus..Unfortunately. ☹️

This article explains it well.

english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-28/a-room-a-bar-and-a-class-how-the-coronavirus-is-spread-through-the-air.html

My kids school don't have the classroom windows open

@listsandbudgets

DD's in senior school so they obviously move round between lessons which helps to warm them up. They are also allowed to wear their PE jumpers over their uniform and a t shirt / vest underneath it and wooly tights. Windows open though and I don't think the heating is on.

DS's school - primary - are encouraging extra layers and make them get up and do 10 star jumps every 30 minutes which seems to serve to warm them all up nicely I'm not sure if this is every class but DS's form teacher happens to also be the PE teacher

Lovely thought, but unfortunately this will mean they are exhaling loads more aerosols. 😱

Wrap up and keep changing that air.

It is freezing and really unpleasant for staff and the kids. I’m wearing 4 layers, scarves and heat patches to keep the chill off . I would get some vests until the government see sense.