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.

Yep, I thought I maybe didn’t phrase that properly. I was just trying to say that just because it’s OK elsewhere to me it doesn’t mean its ok. Why should people struggle if they don’t have to. I just think that it would be good if schools in the UK were set up better to make the heat easier to cope with. But I know it’s normally only extreme for a handful of days a year so difficult to justify spending on this.
thanks for clarifying that we’re the same species though!

Have non uniform , plenty of sunscreen, hats lots of water and buy ice lollies.

My children go to school here in Sydney, and we have rules around outside play when it’s very hot. It needs to reach 35 at our school and then they’re kept inside, they’re not allowed to run around. They’re also kept inside when the bushfires are horrendous and it’s hot and smoky outside.

But, we have fully air conditioned classrooms at their school. I didn’t realize classrooms in the UK weren’t air conditioned and I appreciate a PP explaining that the buildings are old and designed to keep the heat in. It must be awful being stuck inside, expected to learn in that heat.

of course you will be happy to not be paid whilst sitting at home? i assume?

Little snow flakes melting at 30c , what ever next. Do you keep them locked in the room when you go abroad, how do other countries cope, people in the UK are becoming a joke

its not 'extreme weather' either....its simply summer

• no school when it’s hot
• no school when it’s too cold
• no school when it’s too windy

I’ve lived in various countries, some with quite extreme weather conditions, I’ve never seen a school being closed in any of them due to the weather conditions.

Because the UK is becoming hotter.

Our infrastructure and business culture doesn't factor in cooling down communal spaces or closing for large portions of the hottest part of the day.

There was outrage on many threads on here when schools or bubbles closed due to covid. Put your hard hat on OP!

IMO no schools shouldn’t close due to the expected high temps. There is a lot of hysteria around the weather being hot, teachers dealt with covid, they can deal with a bit of hot weather. We can’t continue to close schools for little reason. If parents are worried about their children they have every right to keep them at home (like many did due to covid.) I taught for many years and it’s ridiculous to suggest closing schools due to a bit of heat.

Closing seems extreme. Relaxing dress / uniform code would be a reasonable move though.

We should definitely increase air con infrastructure in all public buildings to accommodate changing climates.

but life needs to run as normal. Children need education, parents cant be expected to drop their jobs to stay home in hot weather and as other posters have commented, its only the privileged kids for whom being at home will be any more comfortable in hot weather anyway

@Gawdimold If only we could get parents to send water bottles, sunscreen and hats in.

As for buying them ice lollies...are you actually having a laugh?

You hit the nail on the head.

I wonder what would happen if our NHS decided to close hospitals due to the heat or if bus drivers, bin men, train drivers, shop staff etc decided to shut up shop during a heatwave? 🙄

Because unlike countries where it is habitually like this, we did not build architecture with it in mind

its all very well
saying they should just manage but heatstroke is a genuine risk to health not something you ‘man up’ and pretend you’re not suffering from

Of course schools shouldn't close- dont be ridiculous. However, totally agree that adaptations are necessary - fans (at very least) in all classrooms, less formal learning during main/latter part of day, outside in shade, ideally with water options etc.

Also, no reasons schools can't offer an ice lolly as a way to cool down and also get kids to get some additional liquid in them.

The media have reported a possible "level 4" for Monday. Meaning risk of illness or death to people who are fit and well. Young children are already classed as vulnerable.

Imagine this happening to a fit and well child in school....imagine the outrage...believe it or not we have the child's best interest at heart.

But its the same temperature at home as in school?

I saw a post earlier about how someone thinks schools in England break up too late and spend all the 'good weather' in school. I have to say I agree

In Germany they close primary schools when it gets too hot. I think it’s mooted when the temperature inside the building hits 25 degrees at 11am. It’s called Hitzefrei. There’s so much ignorance on this thread.

1. yes I would to keep my children safe and comfortable
2. it IS extreme heat. It’s an incredibly rare occurrence giving bodies no time to adapt. Speak to any health professional, heatstroke and dehydration is a very real danger to children. And everyone going “oh it’s only 30 degrees” I don’t think anyone is talking about closing schools at 30 degrees but the 35/36 degrees forecast for Monday. The same as in Australia as another poster said.

What do you think working parents would do if the schools closed? We won't get time off work if it gets hot.

Our secondary has agreed to summer uniform which is no blazer and no tie, which helps. DD (14) woke up vomiting all over her duvet yesterday. DS has covid, I have stomach pain! Thankfully I can work at home, DS is between A levels and Uni, and I kept DD at home. I suspect she will be off tomorrow too

so I don’t think schools should automatically close for all, but keep your child at home if they aren’t coping

but the heat will still be there....at home or school!