Freezing schools

[Ineedapuppy]

DD8 has cried this afternoon at how cold it is in her classroom with all the doors and windows open. Apparently she’s not allowed a blanket from home and the only response from school is to wear layers under uniform

AIBU to think that this is unkind? At work (large multi National company) staff would NOT work in these freezing conditions. How can it be fair to expect young kids to do it and if so, why make them wear flimsy uniforms?

@EllaVaNight

What are people's suggestions for children from low income families? All these extra clothes simply are not possible for many families. Schools should be safe for poor children.

This. Some schools in Scotland are freezing without the added issue of covid because the government won't pay to fix them. And you've got the issue of families not able to afford all of these lovely ideas of thermal clothing from mountain warehouse and many other layers. Are you all going to pay for them all? I think not.

I know @OnceuponaRainbow18, some are awful I’m sure. But I do notice on threads like this there’s a tendency to discuss schools as if they are all the same, and of course they are not.

DD has thermal leggings and a long sleeve top. You could use normal ones and not thermal ones. As it gets colder she wears…. Thermal undies, trousers, vest jumper with no sleeves, polo shirt, school thick jumper, fleece, coat…. She also has 2 pairs of socks. No one wants to be cold.

Cashmere wrist warmers??

The most Mumsnet thing I've ever read.

Are headteachers sat in warm offices or am I just a cynic.

In France all dc 6 years up wear masks.
Windows are opened for 5 minutes, minimum, every hour.

Are windows and main doors open all day in the UK?
If so that’s shocking.

@Worried234

Cashmere wrist warmers??

The most Mumsnet thing I've ever read.

😂😂😂

It doesn’t seem 5 minutes since children were sent home when a school boiler broke.

@Capferret

Are headteachers sat in warm offices or am I just a cynic

Ours defo is as they don’t see anyone they can have their windows closed!

New schools may have better ventilation systems. Unfortunately they are usually very expensive to maintain so most schools may not be able to run them! All comes back to funding.

If people can’t afford extra layers, pupil premium may help if you qualify, or PTA funds. Some local charities like Round Table could also possibly help.

@Capferret

It doesn’t seem 5 minutes since children were sent home when a school boiler broke.

1. In case you hadn't noticed, conditions have changed.
2. When did that last happen? Exactly?

@Capferret

I’d rather windows open that my 6 year old wear a mask all day to be fair

@FreeBritnee

We were in very close contact with a family outdoors who went on to test positive for covid a day later. We never caught it even though the kids were shoulder to shoulder. Ventilation works.

Ventilation is different to all doors and windows wide open in freezing weather. Plus you don't know that's not why you didn't catch it, thats a guess.

Ah, £40 quids worth of thermals and cashmere wrist warmers for every child 2 and over, of course that’s the answer ! Was in a primary yesterday where most of the kids didn’t have coats and wore PE pumps as school shoes, but I’m sure with some careful planning their parents too could afford cashmere and merino base layers

Slippery slope arguments. We need to ventilate classrooms >> we need every window and door open wide all day >> the poorest dc need to buy cashmere gloves.
Today I'll keep the lot shut and break my own school's risk assessment. Hope no one catches anything.

Decathlon has cheaper base layers than £40. They have some trousers and tops at 1.99 -5.90.

Obviously still out the range of children in pe pumps and no jumpers but this might help people in the middle ground where merino is out the budget.

This ventalation thing is very difficult as different schools tackle it differently. We spent a lot of time researching what vetilation meant for our school and it was opening high up windows a crack, and opening the doors to the outside for 5 minutes, every 25 minutes. So it is quite warm. Other schools might no have high up windows or doors to the outside.

Some of our classrooms are so cold. Then you get the odd one which is boiling. Neither is a good working condition.

However, all doors and windows open where they are able is what we've been told to do.

@Happylittlethoughts

The lower limit in Scotland is 16 degrees. Classrooms here are cold and miserable in some buildings.Working with young children who don't self regulated well it can be very tricky. The impact of the cold temperatures can impact lower socio economic pupils 2 thirds more . Not everyone can just go buy thermals . It's miserable and impacting pupils. No matter the reason for it, you can't just brush aside the experiences and impact of this so bloody glibly.

But literally none of that matters @Happylittlethoughts.

Covid covid covid. The wellbeing and happiness of your child at school does not matter, the fact that loads of kids can't just buy new thermals - doesn't matter.

The only thing which matters to a lot of people - including much of the Scottish government - is bloody covid.

Oh and children in secondary schools in Scotland (generally not known for its tropical climate) are in masks ALL DAY and they are supposed to have the windows open too. It was 0c at 9am yesterday morning.

Bonkers. I have family that live in a cold country and my sister in law is a teacher. I asked her if their children were expected to sit in cold classrooms - no, how awful, how on earth would they learn was the response.

Ventilation does not mean having doors and windows open all day, how utterly ridiculous.

@Theluggage15

Bonkers. I have family that live in a cold country and my sister in law is a teacher. I asked her if their children were expected to sit in cold classrooms - no, how awful, how on earth would they learn was the response.

Ventilation does not mean having doors and windows open all day, how utterly ridiculous.

How else do you expect us to get adequate ventilation, that brings the new CO monitors to nearer acceptable levels, and to 'purge' the air between classes? This is what the government expects us to do.

And yes, it can be miserable. I have arthritis and the cold makes my joints hurt. Some days it's incredibly painful. I have fingerless gloves I wear in class at times I order to keep typing.

And then other rooms have only tiny windows and no external doors, and the thermostats are in other rooms next to doors and windows, so those rooms become unbearably hot.

It can be miserable for the staff too.

What about the kids from neglectful homes, that may not have heating at all at home and then spend all day in a freezing school. It's like something out of Oliver Twist. All these children that get forgotten about same with lockdown.

@EllaVaNight
What are people's suggestions for children from low income families? All these extra clothes simply are not possible for many families. Schools should be safe for poor children.
We’re providing extra layers for those children at the school I teach at, not sure what other schools do.

@MrsHamlet
My CO2 monitor is above 1500 by 10am every day, even with the windows open. And yes, I'm keeping the windows open all day.
Mine is exactly the same so yes, I am keeping the windows open all day.

@HesterShaw1
Genuine question though - are some schools extending "must ventilate" to include "can't have the heating on either"?
Can’t speak for all schools, but at the school I teach at, we’ve got the heating on full whack all day to try and compensate for the windows being open, but it’s a Victorian building so it’s cold and crafty at the best of times so heating isn’t having much impact.

Surely having a blanket at School may be a Covid risk? I have thermal vests (of differing weights) and some leggings as well.Long walks by the sea with my dog have taught me its not fun to be cold. I would get some vests /leggings for her .Or just thick tights for little girls maybe?