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.

@Parker231 their school aren't great at listening to parents and they have made concession - ie shorts and yes I have spoken to school and been told that.

Plus they are teens - even if I got permission for them to wear hats if they're only ones they won't and I know that because I spoke to my teens.

I have much experience with hats as DS used to get Juvenile spring eruption (thankfully outgrown ) and primaries and everyone in education would say all the right things - and DS having experienced the pain was keen to avoid and there still be problems letting him wear a hat. It was bloody bizarre how hard wearing a hat was made TBH.

My 6 year old came home yesterday crying because her head hurt, even though the school has done there best to keep them in the shade,hydrated.
Schools as is many homes are built to retain heat, this is probably going to be an ongoing issue now most years.

@Pocolovo - it’s very hot working in hospitals - should they close?
If schools are closed next week, who is going to look after the children of working parents?

In the USA schools that don't have air conditioning (typically older buildings that haven't been retrofitted) can close for heat, subject to local policy. I believe the typical criterion is an indoor temperature over 32C. Schools here finish in June, but thanks to climate change, hot days are coming earlier in the year.

YABVU.

It didn't reach 30 here until 3pm yesterday. So listening to the forecast would have meant an unnecessarily wasted day.

Schools have large cool rooms, tiled floors, are able to create through draughts. Makeshift blinds are easy to put up. Any school caretaker can manage that.

Most children are skinny and able to cope with heat far better than adults.

Schools are playing catch-up after covid. We don't need any more disruption.

This in a nutshell!!!

Moaning Minnie's on mumsnet are an embarrassment.... good to see there aren't that many though

No, no it's not 'unprecedented'

It's summer

As you have pointed out, children are about to enter six weeks of summer holiday where they will not be in school.

Therefore things need to be put in place that ensure children are safe and fed when schools are closed, because it happens regularly throughout the year, and for far longer than one or two days.

If the argument against closing schools for a day or two for unprecedented heat is that home isn’t safe or there’s no food, that’s actually showing up the weaknesses in the system. What should happen then is not keeping schools open when they shouldn’t be, but the issue of unsafe homes be addressed.

The argument for forcing kids into school in times of extreme weather should never be ‘because they’re not safe at home’.

No, no it's not 'unprecedented'

Tell the Met Office to stand down their extreme heat alert, since you’re the expert.

Schools have large cool rooms, tiled floors, are able to create through draughts.

What planet are you living on?

The media have reported a possible "level 4" for Monday

These "levels" and "coloured warnings" have become quite ejoyable buzz phrases for the media haven't they? They relished reporting a new "level" over Covid and now they're doing the same because it's a bit warm

And isn't it odd that children can't possibly step into the pitiless glare when at school, but once home will often want to play outside in it?

This, I agree, it utterly ridiculous though.

It needs raising - but that's a separate issue to, Is it too hot to be in school.

Children should be allowed to wear shorts/short sleeve shirts/no blazer etc.

This bears repeating.

Well Said! @Greensleeves

Parents have to go to work you can't just close schools and expect parents to be able to cope.
Poor ventilation is a massive issue that needs addressing for heat and covid reasons.

If you are lucky enough not to need to work, then keep them home and lower the load on the teachers if you feel that strongly. And tell the school why.

I think though that 30 feels far hotter than 30 in many other countries because of the humidity. I lived abroad when it was consistently hot but my flat had ceiling fans, stone floors etc but the heat was more bearable.

You’d have to look at things on a case by case basis re schools. I think the term is running too late. Mine was ready really to stop at the end of June: the private schools have got the right idea but some schools are set/up better than others. Many nurseries have to open during the summer so there must be things that can be copied over to help keep the children safe and well. I get very annoyed with my school around suncream for example. I don’t think it’s acceptable not to help the infants with it when summer camps and nurseries do remind and help.

The weather is not that extreme, the hype around it is the only extreme.

Some people on here are so blinkered, well they can lounge on the sofa watching tv, dipping in and out of the paddling pool, in the garden etc.

Lots of children don't have that option and their parents are trying to work!

Employers don't and won't give endless amounts of leave either paid or unpaid, so what then?

@IGotItInTheSales It most certainly is!

This is such a white ,first world problem.
How do you think things work in other countries??

The weather is not that extreme, the hype around it is the only extreme.

So you disagree with the Met Office’s “Extreme Heat” warning for next week?

Some do!

Sorry, that was supposed to be in reply to the question about whether schools have air con

The Met Office, oh yes they always get it right, don't they.......

The children are not working outside are they?

I have not RTFT, but what I have read is "children tired, a senior school child is thirsty (FFS if they can't refill their own water bottle by senior school, they god help them), but not seen any my child is actually sick because of it? If you feel that strongly, then keep your child off, but don't expect the school to sanction it!

Perhaps all the older outdoor workers, post people, refuse collectors, police, fire service etc should also go home?

I used to teach in a school in a climate that regularly hit 40 degrees. The school still functioned without air con, kids played sport and games and rode their bicycles. No doubt everyone was acclimatised.

This is global warming unfortunately and we are going to have to get used to it. Until we vote in serious politicians prepared to do something about climate change, we are going to have to accept it and it will get worse.

No! It's the norm to not have air con. DTS are at primary in old victorian building, and their secondary school is the same. DH teaches in a new build school, completed a couple of years ago and it doesnt have ac.