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

Neither suck it up nor 'complain' as such. But raise with the school the stupidity of insisting on uniform rules during a period like this when classrooms are necessarily cold. Hopefully you will be ok with base layers that keep your child warm, but I have a real contempt for any SLT who don't think the children being warm and comfortable enough matters far, far more than whether what they are wearing is approved uniform. Things are not normal and you have to be a particular kind of arsehole to be precious about uniform at this point!

I would speak to the teacher and see if they can either move the kids around or move the table out of the draft. Some kids really do feel the cold more than others. My DS does not feel the cold and would happily sit in that kind of seat, all day long, with no ill effects. Don't worry about the other kids!

Don't complain, as such, but please let the school know! The class I work with seem to be completely impervious to the cold. It's only the staff that are freezing . We are waiting for updates on what to do when it gets REALLY cold.

mention it to the school, they may even be able to put a screen in front of the door to funnel the air around - there are plenty of simple measures to manage air flow.

Ventilated rooms doesn't mean that doors and windows have to be wide open all day. Not all schools are interpreting the guidelines in the same way - maybe slightly open while the children are in there and wide during bresks, lunch etc would be better.
A classroom should be a minimum temperature of 18 degrees so I would ask them to check that when you write.

Aldi are selling a base layer set (bottoms and top) for £6.99 on their website

Base layer thermals. Would they allow small blanket over her knee?

And they probably have them in their shops too as they were released on Sunday.

Woolly hat could make big difference

Decathlon is cheap for base layers normally

I got all 3 dc thermal base layers from sports direct. The leggings were £3 and the tops were £4.50 or 2 for £8. They’re amazing at keeping you warm. I have one for myself for early morning dog walks and it really helps keeps the chill out. You can put the leggings on under school trousers as they’re quite thin. Our school sent out a letter to layer and make sure kids have a woolly hat and fingerless gloves they can keep on at all times

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kids-warm-thermal-base-layer-keepdry-100-mottled/_/R-p-198753?mc=8524043&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Surfaces For Google&utmcontent=8524043-2635730&iv=_ivp1g61113988777c316312114266waud-565280568422:pla-308327991064ngdmv_ltrxplay15177021fonlineo8524043-2635730zGBienj308327991064s_eh9045199iivi&gclid=CjwKCAiAtK79BRAIEiwA4OskBtHxyEOJsJqI8qfgUxzdNgBJ95-cLAUXS4BQ0g4PDVplAhrZyyV3rhoCmeUQAvDBwE

Put base layer leggings then trousers

Speaking to the teacher isn't "complaining". Communication is key and if they haven't realised or been told how cold she is then it may just have been overlooked.

They will definitely move her!

Sorry, forgot to say, you should still ask for her to be moved as the draught will make it feel colder than it is and that’s not fair for her.

These are the silk thermals I was talking about but they don't seem to have them in any larger sizes - just for tiny children.
www.patra.com/Products/CP/childrens-pure-silk-thermal-long-johns

But if the silk ones are too expensive get Aldi ones - I know an adult who bought them and says they are great.

Thanks everyone

So I plucked up the courage to call the school. I don’t want to be seen as unsupportive of their Covid measures. There was a bit of defensiveness tbh (‘we sent parents an email about layering up... have you read it etc?’) but once I explained the issue of where she sits and the draught, they said they would speak to the teacher and make sure she wears the extra layers I send her in her bag. She’s only little and wouldn’t always think to put her fleece on. So the teacher looking out for her will help.

I don’t think she can be moved but I will buy the layers you have recommended (thanks everyone! I feel pretty stupid for not thinking of this myself!) and I’ll see what difference they make. It’s 13 degrees today so it’s only going to get worse...

Your child is freezing cold at school, probably miserable and unable to concentrate, you need to talk to the school now

Decathlon is reliable and cheap, we live in the mountains of the Highlands and my kids all have thermal vests and longjohns, uniform, ski socks and ski jacket as standard winter school clothes - I always use decathlon. Try thermal tights from M&S too. Also hearty breakfasts of porridge really help. It’s really hard being hard-up and winterising the kids.

I think the teachers should be aware that some of the children will probably be feeling cold with all the windows and doors open, especially younger children. I think the teachers should get the kids up and moving, jumping up and down on the spot for a few minutes every hour is the easiest way to warm up.

Also Op if the teacher would let your DD wear a hat in the classroom this would help, as so much heat is lost through the head and you mentioned her face is always cold.

Mountain warehouse is good too cor base layers. As the poster above, we're in bloody freezing Scotland and the base layers, ski jackets and socks etc are life savers for school and outdoors play.

Our school is allowing the kids to wear their PE hoodies each day to help with this.

Two of my three sit near the door and windows so are chilly. I intend to ask the school whether they can rotate the children (ensuring they stay with their desk partner) on a weekly basis to make it as fair as possible. In saying that, working in a classroom it’s not very much warmer from one side of the classroom to another (in our school anyway).

I do feel that it shouldn’t be the same children stuck closest to the door throughout the whole winter.

surprised you couldn't come up with previous mentioned ideas re layers/hat/gloves yourself 😳

Tell the teacher. It's going to get a lot colder and it's not fair on your daughter!