To think schools should shut in 30' heat

[dragonflyglaze]

I'm a TA in an Infant School in the South East, we break up next Thurs. This week has been tough, the little ones can't cope in the heat and as much as we try and keep them indoors, hydrated etc some of them are just not coping. Never mind the staff who are doing their best to support the children whilst slowly melting.
Next week we are forecast to hit 30' and there's an extreme weather warning. We have to close if its too cold e.g. heating not working, or too windy. I can't understand why there's no rule for extreme heat.

But the buildings are built differently for the heat. Ours are built to stay warm!

Also, many European schools (specifically Spain) have no uniforms meaning the kids wear what they want. Also, they don't go to school in the hottest months, June, July and August.

Exactly this!

30C is not extreme heat, it is a normal day in Spain from June to September. I do agree that it doesn´t seem that the country is incorporating measures to cope with warmer summers in sync with global warming. Just think yourself lucky you´re not in Badajoz, with expectations of 43-45C today, red alert warnings.

I think the posters here advocating sending kids home live in a different universe to most of us. People have essential jobs, they can't take time off - yes school isn't childcare but they plan for the holidays. Mine are grown now but they never got to be at home even if ill, they came to work with me, I've not worked from home since May 2020 either due to being classified as essential!

No, they shouldn’t. If you wish to keep your child off then go ahead but they shouldn’t close to everyone. Older children can cope with the heat just as well as anyone else.

Schools won’t close. Some people do actually have to go to work. Dress your children appropriately and give them plenty of water. As in hot countries you stay inside during the hottest parts of the day.

I think my children’s school have made decent enough decisions and adaptions to make it more comfortable for everyone so no. My daughters school has a mix of old and new buildings, the new buildings are much cooler and also have the option of air conditioning when it’s very extreme weather, my sons school is very old and is like a furness however, this week my sons school have allowed them to ditch the blazers and wear their own clothes so it’s been shorts and T-shirts all week which has been more comfortable for him and he hasn’t complained about the heat at school. The school also have water machines all round the school paid for by the PSA.

The problem is that we are just not set up or equipped for the few weeks a year that we have to deal with this weather. Countries where this is the norm have air-conditioning, lots of shaded areas and lots of available water to keep the kids hydrated. We have some old school fans in the corner of the classroom and expect that to keeps the kids cool!

My husband is a TA in a school in the South East. He is not allowed to wear shorts or short sleeved shirts so he has been really uncomfortable in this weather. I think some of the rigid rules about clothing need to change as well.

@MixedMarriageMadness - sounds like he is working at a very poor school. What reasons have they given him for not allowing appropriate clothing in the hot weather.

DC secondary still sending them outside midday for lunch.

I have found cotton/linen school shirts and one has cotton trousers - not as easy to find as you'd expect. They are not allowed hats but they can suddenly have black shorts in certain style - which we don't have and can't find and are polyester.

They do have refillable bottles - but still come home hot and very thirsty.

If I send them in in non uniform clothes - they will be put in isolation for the day.

They are coping though not sure how great the learning actually is.

yes wrap them up in cotton wool
That will really help when they are adults in the real hard world

Not sure wrapping them up in cotton wool during a heatwave is sensible ?

Because parents need to work.....

Reading your initial post I was thinking nah don't be ridiculous but actually I have 3 very young children and thinking about it they probably should as extreme as it sounds. There's no air con in schools and they can't strip off and cool off as they would at home. One of my children is reception age and even in hot weather he will come home with his drink untouched. Its hard to police whether 30 children are drinking enough, at age 4 or 5 they don't really understand the importance. As they all have their own water bottles and they can refill them if they like it's impossible for school to monitor if they are drinking (they don't have the time to anyway). Of course other countries are hotter and open but they have buildings designed for the weather, uniforms are cooler and they usually start earlier and finish earlier before it gets too hot. The children are also more acclimatised to it.

Not read full thread but assuming it’s been recognised that primary schools in Spain and other hot countries shut at lunchtime in June and September to avoid the heat, and it’s often not even 30 degrees. Plus they have blinds and built in fans.

That isn’t true, loads of countries with warm climates do not have air conditioning in classrooms. The British are famous for their victim stance on absolutely everything 🙄

Agree can be so hot for them. Also in SE.
My child had a trip yesterday luckily sun behind clouds but was worried.

All mine at school now and I miss the air conditioned nursery they went to!

I think some classes have aircon at the school.not all.

I know about the PAT testing, but I think I'd be making sure that happened ASAP under the circumstances. I don't believe gaffer or duck tape would melt, it's tough stuff, but there's one way to find out! 😊 My point is, with a "can do" attitude, there's a lot that can be done. I'm coming at this from my own experience of owning a place in southern Europe, you keep the heat either in or out depending on the time of year, and draw any cool air into the building during the coolest hours ( early morning).

These are all good skills we can draw on next winter.

I’m a teacher and we have luckily already broken up. These extremes of temperature are horrible and can be dangerous but I don’t think shutting schools is the answer. Some people’s homes will be hotter than school as well!

I think if parents want to keep children at home they should be allowed to - this would mean fewer bodies in the classroom and things might be more bearable.

I do think classrooms should be equipped with air conditioning units and fans though. Some of the rooms in my school are unbearable when it’s only mid 20s (built to store heat, windows open an inch etc) and we take the kids outside to sit in the shade.

Just no.

I don't understand how children are any "safer" at home in the heat compared to at home? Not all primary aged children have homes with access to shady gardens with paddling pools and unlimited ice lollies. There's also the risk of increased drowning with unsupervised teenagers going to reservoirs and lakes to cool off. Surely, the better option would be to reduce the ridiculous uniform rules, provide adequate drinking water and crack on with school.

It's almost like closing schools for covid has made education unimportant...

If the school aren’t allowing hats and appropriate clothing, it’s a health issue. Everyone knows you should wear a hat in the sun. Have you spoken to the school head and education department about this?

I think the rigidity of some schools (usually secondaries) regarding wearing the correct uniform even in extreme heat is bordering on child cruelty. Secondary schools definitely need to revisit summer uniform requirements. Most primary schools seem to already offer 'summer' uniform adaptations, don't they?

Around here we are about to enter the six weeks summer holidays, there will be some children during that time that will not receive a decent meal, because their parents cannot afford it. Food banks are stretched and charities will be doing their best to give food to these children.

To send children home to a house without food, because it is hot in school, is not safer for them, far from it.

Think of the wider picture.

It’s disgraceful making children wear full uniform in this heat. My year 7 daughter has had to go to school today in full tie and blazer and pleated heavy skirt, carrying her massive rucsack full of books - no hats allowed, no sunglasses. It’s cruelty! And they have sports day tomorrow! Coupled with no one is getting much sleep as it’s 26C+ at night with all the windows open it’s ridiculous!

i think schools should close! Children and staff shouldn’t be subjected to temps like this. It’s unprecedented that it’s this hot in the uk in July, and schools which are in the main old buildings that trap heat, will be unbearable!

There will be no meaningful teaching going on anyway!
No point in comparing to Spain or Italy. They have a different structure to their school day, and will have finished for the holidays a few weeks ago anyway.
Schools in England and Wales break up stupidly late!