To be annoyed my child is freezing cold at school

[BlueSkies2020]

My child’s school has all the windows and doors open all day, following govt guidelines on reducing Covid transmissions. I support this in principle, and have sent my child in extra layers as requested. It needs to be official uniform, so I’ve added a cardigan under the school fleece, vest under a polo shirt, tights with socks over, trousers. They shut the windows and doors when the children are outside playing to warm it up.

The issue is my child is sat right next to the classroom door (opens to the playground). Her table is at a diagonal and she is sitting in the draft stream iyswim.

She is complaining about the cold. Says her arms and legs are freezing and I can verify that when I go to pick her up - her face is freezing. Yesterday she felt icy cold and it’s not even that cold outside. She won’t raise it with the teacher - quite shy.

Do I just suck it up and put even more layers on her. Or complain?

Any advice on extra layering and affordable layers gratefully received. We’re quite short of money right now due to husbands work drying up during Covid, so don’t have money for base layers which look quite pricey.

Uniform is royal blue. So any product links would be helpful x

I should say she is 6

Speak to the teacher, tell them your child is sitting in a draft, and needs to be moved.

Yes, I'd see if she can be moved as well. It sounds like she feels the cold more than others (my DS is going to school just wearing a polo shirt on his top half and insists he is not cold at all - so a child like him could be put in your daughter's spot!).

Ask for your daughter to be moved somewhere else....unfair for her to be sat in a draught all day.

Definitely speak to the teacher! She probably hasn't realise and will move the table/your daughter. You can buy base layers quite reasonably at Sports Direct.

My 7 year old went in today in shorts and a t-shirt, in the north! Some kids don't feel the cold so maybe she can be swapped with someone who isn't as bothered?

Yes I'd speak to the teacher. It's great for covid prevention that they've got a door to the outside, but they should probably move the kids round a bit during the day - and if they can't do that move the tables to avoid the draft.

Other than that, under layers don't need to be uniform as long as you can't see them so a tshirt she's nearly grown out of under her polo shirt (long sleeved if she's keeping her cardi on anyway, tights under trousers, and even a skirt over trousers if it's really bad. Though frankly I have no patience for schools being anal about uniform over warmth right now.

Thanks for the thoughts, my daughter doesn’t usually complain about the cold So it must be very cold. We don’t tend to feel the cold as a family, so have the heating on low even in the dead of winter. But yes maybe there is another child who could swap.

I’m off to look up base layers on Sports Direct and will call the school (can’t speak to the teacher directly due to Covid restrictions).

Yes speak to teacher. My DD is still wearing shorts to school despite being right by the open window as the hearing is on too. But has been known to actually put on her base-layer and her tracksuit bottom in the evening for study as some rooms are colder. (She’s a teen and stays in school until 9pm). Luckily they are all allowed wear sports uniform instead of formal uniform all year, and there is flexibility if need be for non-uniform due to the realities of Covid. (But DD already had loads of sports uniform due to 6 days a week sports In school, so she’s very happy wearing that as she still has 4 days a week sports and they have no changing facilities this year, I can see some fun trying to get her back in the skirt and blouse next year...)

Yes @ThePlantsitter - they are lucky in that their classroom is all outside facing. It’s a new building with large doors and windows. But this does make it very cold. At my old school, the classrooms all faced into a large interior courtyard. That would work well in this scenario of needing ventilation but keeping the temperature reasonable.

Sports uniform does sound more sensible- much warmer. They don’t have a sports uniform though (it just b&w T-shirt and shorts).

I think I should just get more layers and suck it up. Maybe they could move the desk a bit, but wouldn’t want to put another child in same position.

Studies show air needs to be refreshed hourly otherwise covid will spread around the room after a couple of hours of non mask wearing children/adults. I realise it’s non negotiable to keep windows and doors open, and it’s going to get a LOT colder, so better figure out how I can keep her warm.

Speak to the teacher, our local school is rotating the children on a weekly basis so it’s not the same ones cold all the time.

Please speak to the school if she is in a draft she will be so much colder than anyone else that isn't!

They may be able to reconfigure things.

My DC’s school aren’t doing this, they don’t even have a window open. Not sure how I feel about it. Glad they’re not cold all day but some ventilation would be better...

Thermal long johns maybe? I would ask whether she could move too.

Decathlon had some very cheap ski baselayers i think they were about £2.99 and are very warm..

I've had to ask for one DT to be moved because she sits pretty much on top of the radiator and was boiling up and getting croaky from the dry air

The other one is in the cold and wearing thermal base layers which has improved things although it hasn't got very cold here yet.

I feel sorry for the teachers and how they're going to manage this over proper winter.

Yes I feel sorry for the teachers too. I’m appreciative and will support whatever they need to do to keep schools open. I just feel sad for my child. It’s miserable when you’re cold. I’m going to do my best to get some more effective layers and see if that makes a difference- thank you for the decathlon and sports direct tips - I was looking at Polarn o pyret baulking at the prices. Need something better than layered cotton T-shirt’s

Why havent you put her in thermal base layers? Dont add beats and tights. Add thermal base layers.

Speak to the teacher about angling her deak or moving her out of the draft.

I'd suggest silk base layers if you can find them and afford them. Get long johns and possibly a long sleeved vest. If she's wearing a jumper or cardigan all day the vest can't be seen.
They really do work. I live in a cold country and wear them all the time outdoors and in.

I'd mention it to the school, they should be able to move her out of the draught at least and maybe be a bit more flexible with uniform during this crisis!! Eg. ask if she can wear fingerless gloves.

Mine are going in with long sleeved thermal white tops under their uniform, and I've just bought uniform coloured fleeces for them to chuck on as well if required, and fingerless gloves. The head is very accepting of how bonkers the situation is and has promised they'll go non uniform if it gets too cold so we can layer 'em up lots (they tend to do this if it gets really hot as well - it's really a laid back school where uniform is concerned.

To be honest I’d not really heard about/ had need to look into thermal base layers. I don’t even know what they look like. Never been skiing or anywhere particularly cold. We don’t do outdoor sports. We live in a city and don’t need anything more than a coat.

I think I should just get more layers and suck it up. Maybe they could move the desk a bit, but wouldn’t want to put another child in same position.

Why wouldnt you just call the school and let them know your DD sits in a draught and ask if she could be moved rather than have her suffer in silence?

It's not a huge deal and I'm sure if the teacher was aware they would have no issue moving your DDs desk, they may not have to swap anyone, just move the desks slightly to keep them out of any direct draughts but if you or your DD dont tell them then they can't know and will assume your DD is fine.

I think schools should be more flexible with uniform at this time (and I speak as a school governor). Whilst you are working out whether you can get extra base layers for her, let her wear her coat indoors and possibly a hat. And message the school to say that you are doing this as your DD is feeling the cold.

Yes fingerless gloves are a good idea