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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my son to still be allowed to do PE?

77 replies

KarenM262 · 05/10/2021 17:05

Since covid school have made us send our children in PE kit once a week anyway I was supposed to send my 6 year son today and for some reason I completely forgot and sent him in his uniform, it wasn't until I got a text from school telling me off that I even realised. Anyway I've no excuse I should have sent him but he has come home telling me he wasn't allowed to join in and had to sit and do writing instead. It was indoor PE and he wears trainers so can't really see why he couldn't have done it in his uniform? AIBU?

OP posts:
AndOtherStories · 05/10/2021 20:16

@NovemberWitch

Unhygienic, health and safety policies mean that certain activities require specific kit and Covid probably means that spare kit couldn’t be used. If he’s 6, Ok. If he’s Y6 with no additional needs, school probably felt he should take responsibility for remembering his stuff. Secondary, it’s usually a lunch detention for forgetting.
How is it any more unhygienic than doing PE in the kit they'll wear all day?
JudgeRindersMinder · 05/10/2021 20:26

@KarenM262

He's 6 not year 6 and actually I can't promise it won't happen again if I'm honest, my partner is already at work when we get up and getting everyone out to school/nursery/work trying to remember forms and books and bags etc isn't always easy, again I have no excuse I'm just not that organised, then again I was often the kid doing PE in vest and knickers 😂. Sometimes I just think though what's the point of all these rules? Is it really the end of the world if they all forgot it (PE kit is more comfortable though so doubt it would ever cause a rebellion). It can't be hygiene because they wear it all day anyway. Apparently it was dancing they were doing, pretty sure you can dance in trousers and a t shirt.
You need to learn to get organised the night before, then the mornings won’t be such an issue.

You’re being really unfair to your child by being this way, he’s going to be the one to miss out, not you.

Original poster
KarenM262 · 05/10/2021 20:29

@Morgantowers

It’s not a big deal. He forgot his kit not you. I bet he won’t forget next week. Yr 6 need to start taking responsibility, Yr7 is a big jump otherwise.
No it was me, he's 6, he didn't say anything when I gave him his school uniform to put on so he forgot too, I'm not sure he was bothered as it was dancing anyway. I asked him if anyone else has ever forgotten and he said a boy had but he was still allowed to do it 🙄. My son doesn't have any weight issues and does sport outside of school but surely PE is as important as any other subject to teach them about health and fitness? I might send him in PE kit tomorrow see if they exclude him from all the other lessons (I'm joking).
OP posts:
AndOtherStories · 05/10/2021 20:31

I remember being completely devastated when DS1 was in reception because I'd forgotten his PE kit. I felt like the worst mum in the world. Then I went to work in the school and realised I don't do so badly Grin

Original poster
KarenM262 · 05/10/2021 20:37

And I do set clothes out the night before, I set the uniform out. This is the first time it's happened. I have a lot going on in my head at the moment and sometimes there just isn't room for everything, I do actually try and have everything appointment wise in my phone, he's going through an autism diagnosis so there's been a lot of forms and meetings etc and I've been diagnosed with a health condition, we have just started a business plus I'm at work as well as doing this. I'm not making excuses I did forget but sometimes I do, I'm sure others do, in fact the last time they had to dress up as pirates or whatever it was I saw a few kids in uniform, it happens. I'm not really disputing I made a mistake, I need to do better yes but why does he get punished because his mum is a bit shit?

OP posts:
Summersun2020 · 05/10/2021 20:45

YANBU. Schools have lost their bloody minds over covid. I’m sick of it. He’s six, hardly running a marathon, of course they should have let him.

lljkk · 05/10/2021 20:46

yanbu. I hope your lad's morale is restored soon.

Summersun2020 · 05/10/2021 20:46

Also don’t stress out over forgetting this one time, I guarantee you won’t be the only one, it happens. the school are being pathetic not letting him join in Flowers

MauisLeftNipple · 05/10/2021 20:53

I am in NZ where most primary school kids don't get wear PE kit. They just get on with it and don't waste time getting changed. They do tend to wear trainers for school shoes though.

Your school is v v U.

lljkk · 05/10/2021 20:57

yeah, where I grew up (warm climate, outdoor temps rarely below 16C, and often > 22) primary age kids (12 & under) did PE in our day clothes (not a uniform, either). We worse trainers to school, anyway.

toocold54 · 05/10/2021 20:57

Sometimes I just think though what's the point of all these rules? Is it really the end of the world if they all forgot it

It’s obviously not the end of the world they just don’t get to do PE. Sometimes they have spare kit to borrow. Obviously when they get older they may get more harsher repercussions as they’re learning how to take responsibility for their own things. If you go swimming and don’t have your swimming costume you wouldn’t be allowed in the pool in your clothes. It’s just about learning to grow up.

Don’t feel bad though all parents have forgotten things before!
Trying to juggle kids, work and general home life is extremely difficult so you are bound to make a few mistakes every now and then.

beentoldcomputersaysno · 05/10/2021 21:03

They could have let it go and said to you that if it happens again he'll be made to sit it out. He's 6. It's petty, but 'technically' it should have been PE kit, so they are making a point. I would also let it go and chalk it up to experience.

user1469894485 · 05/10/2021 21:06

As a primary school teacher and PE coordinator, I would definitely let him do the PE lesson. I would much rather have children joining in with physical activity then sitting out. Also, I’m not keen on activities like writing being used as some sort ‘punishment’ - just creates negative connotations. However, I say all this a I do not work in one of those schools where absolutely everything is micromanaged.

StormyTeacups · 05/10/2021 21:07

We'd allow it at our school within reason. I can understand why others may not however

COS2102 · 05/10/2021 21:21

Am I reading this right? He said another boy forgot kit but was allowed to join in but he wasn't? As a primary pe teacher, I feel this information you are getting from him but be a bit misinformed...he is only 6 after all! I imagine a quick email or call to the school to find out the facts would be best to resolve this. It doesn't make sense for both to have forgotten kit and only one be left out.
Our children only miss pe if they are wearing earrings as it is a safety concern.

BlackeyedSusan · 05/10/2021 21:23

@TaraR2020

Because its unhygienic
not logical if they are in PE kit all day. SSame issue with hygeine surely
TaraR2020 · 05/10/2021 21:30

Wow. I assumed these children sent to school in their PE kits went with their uniform to change into afterwards. Seemed obvious to me. Hmm

dementedpixie · 05/10/2021 21:33

@TaraR2020

Wow. I assumed these children sent to school in their PE kits went with their uniform to change into afterwards. Seemed obvious to me. Hmm
The while point of going in PE kit is because they aren't getting changed in school for PE and are wearing the same clothes all day.

I'm in Scotland and they did this in the previous school year due to covid. Since the school reopened after the summer the changing rooms have been opened again so they can get changed in school again.

Backtoblack1 · 05/10/2021 21:36

He shouldn’t do it in his kit. But I disagree that they made him write as a punishment. As an English teacher, I hate this as I’m trying to encourage a love of writing.

Cattitudes · 05/10/2021 21:39

Well obviously he can't do PE in the wrong coloured t- shirt, how will he be able to move his arms and legs if he has the wrong colour on? It is the same with socks at secondary, how can you possibly be expected to think if wearing white socks or throw a ball if you are wearing black socks.

Life seems to be made up of people who delight in making up rules to torment the rest of us who have to try to follow them. I tend now to set an alarm on my phone to remind me of things like this so I remember to make sure that they move the piece of paper from one bit of uniform once a week just to make the people who write the rules happy. Not sure it teaches me or the dc much other than the value of setting an alarm on a phone but I guess that is a life skill in itself!

ElephantandGrasshopper · 05/10/2021 21:40

I have two kids with two pe days each, and I can't keep track, so I just send them both in pe kit every day (leggings and plain tshirt in school colours) - luckily the school don't seem to mind Grin

00100001 · 05/10/2021 21:43

@TaraR2020

Because its unhygienic
How is it different to them being in their PE kit all day? Confused
Ginseng1 · 05/10/2021 21:43

@Tal45

All the suggestions of unhygienic make me laugh - he's only 6, hardly a sweaty teen (and even my teen still wears his PE kit all day at school due to covid). They do far more potentially sweat inducing exercise running like crazy things around the playground all lunch time then they ever would in a controlled PE lesson anyway and no one worries if that is hygienic - what a bizarre thought. Some schools have loads of petty rules. I'm surprised they didn't have some spare kit he could borrow though if required if he already had suitable trainers.
Totally agree. Ridiculous rule for a 6 yr old who would be sitting around in PE kit all day anyway. Think uniform such a strict thing in UK compared to here (Ireland) though. They v easy going at my kids primary anyway. Secondary is stricter though.
00100001 · 05/10/2021 21:44

@TaraR2020

Wow. I assumed these children sent to school in their PE kits went with their uniform to change into afterwards. Seemed obvious to me. Hmm
Well, obviously not.

What would that achieve in terms of Covid? Them changing clothes once instead of twice? Confused

modgepodge · 05/10/2021 22:21

*Well, obviously not.

What would that achieve in terms of Covid? Them changing clothes once instead of twice?*

I’m not sure what not changing at all achieves in terms of covid tbh. Have there been huge outbreaks linked to children putting different clothes on? Most teachers like it as it saves time, but can’t see how it relates to covid.