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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reception children too hot

126 replies

lockedinandout · 18/07/2022 14:35

Name changed but I'm unsure how I feel about it.

I picked up my daughter from school for an appointment and found out they'd stripped down the kids into just their underwear in the classrooms to keep them cool. On the one hand they are only all 4/5 years old in Reception. On the other, it's inappropriate and I think if that's the extent they have to go to keep kids cool in the classroom, they should close.

AIBU to ask the school what's going on? Happy to be told I'm being fussy, because I can't decide whether I think this is ok or not.

OP posts:
PupInAPram · 18/07/2022 16:04

R1408 · 18/07/2022 14:48

Teachers are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Of course it's too hot - the temperature outside is 35+ and the temperature in classrooms will be higher.

Young children are susceptible to heat stroke. It's far too hot for them at school.

Government has decided schools should open and parents have been going nuts on mumsnet at the suggestion that teachers are 'bunking off' by shutting schools.

Lots of posters saying "it's just as hot at home as it is at school" - if your child is hot at home you would strip them off, so that's what the teacher has done.

When you sent your small child to school this morning, you knew it was a 'threat to life' heatwave and too hot.

I've just come out of a boiling hot secondary. This is so true. We can't win.

Gnomechange · 18/07/2022 16:13

My DD 2 is in nursery today (I need to work), they leave them in the room in just their nappies. I don’t see a problem with this. I would be unhappy if the went to the canteen or school hall that way but classroom would be okay with me.

I think the issue here is that the school didn’t make it clear this would happen. Whereas my nursery did. I think back to when I was little and my parents had not a lot of money, I was fed and well cared for but my pants were often on their last legs and hand me downs from older sister. This would have embarrassed me.

antelopevalley · 18/07/2022 16:13

I would be fine with this.
But also amazed as I know many parents would complain and that there will be many cries of paedos, abuse and safeguarding.

Squashedraddish · 18/07/2022 16:16

It’s not something I’d be worked up about. Kids at that age all get changed for PE in the same room. You chose to send your kid to school when there is a red warning, danger to life. You could have kept them home. The teachers did they what they thought would prevent the kids getting heatstroke. I’m sure if some kids weren’t happy they wouldn’t have been forced to be in underwear.

AuntMargo · 18/07/2022 16:16

The school did their best, what happens when you take your kids on holidays, and half of them are sat in there swimming trunks/bikinis in restaurants surrounded by strangers, dont suppose you moan at that !

FabFitFifties · 18/07/2022 16:17

I also did PE in my underwear in infants, in the early 70's. I thought I was fab when I was the first to inherit a bobbly black leotard. I don't think it was right though, and I think I would complain now. Particularly as vests aren't common, and even less likely in this heat. I also think they would be hotter, with skin on plastic chairs. Very strange idea - though I appreciate teachers were doing their best. Hopefully the children thought it was a lark, rather than upsetting.

DogsAndGin · 18/07/2022 16:18

Then why send them to school?

aperolsprite · 18/07/2022 16:20

The school did their best, what happens when you take your kids on holidays, and half of them are sat in there swimming trunks/bikinis in restaurants surrounded by strangers, dont suppose you moan at that !

indeed

AmyDudley · 18/07/2022 16:20

Obviously this doesn't ddress Op's problem of today. but this country really needs to get on top of the idea that very high temperatures are going to become the norm for this country. All schools should have AC, the school year needs to be rearranged around the weather so children are off for all of July and August.
But as usual we will arse about for several years and do nothing and people will keep their children off, children will get dehydrated and overheated and eventually it will dawn on the govt that AC might need to be a thing as it is in hot countries. I've lived in countries where these temps are the norm and it is perfectly possibly to live with this kind of heat if you have the right things in place to keep people cool, and you don't rigidly stick to the idea of a 9-5 day or a sept - july school year.

HuffleWoof · 18/07/2022 16:26

R1408 · 18/07/2022 14:48

Teachers are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Of course it's too hot - the temperature outside is 35+ and the temperature in classrooms will be higher.

Young children are susceptible to heat stroke. It's far too hot for them at school.

Government has decided schools should open and parents have been going nuts on mumsnet at the suggestion that teachers are 'bunking off' by shutting schools.

Lots of posters saying "it's just as hot at home as it is at school" - if your child is hot at home you would strip them off, so that's what the teacher has done.

When you sent your small child to school this morning, you knew it was a 'threat to life' heatwave and too hot.

I have to agree.

You were home today. You could have kept her home. You chose to send your child to school during a threat to life heatwave. You can't complain the teachers did what they could to cool the children down

SueSaid · 18/07/2022 16:27

'meh. My 5/6/7 year olds would all play on the beach in just pants/bikini bottoms.'

Yes and that is the correct environment but school isn't. I doubt the teachers were sat around in their underwear so why on earth would they have kids sat stripped off.

Posters repeatedly saying we did PE in our undies years ago, yes we did. But they don't anymore. Privacy, dignity and safeguarding rightly much more a thing nowadays.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 18/07/2022 16:28

lockedinandout · 18/07/2022 15:01

Ignoring that the questions about whether or not it's acceptable at their age, I do think it's not ok that they've had to resort to that, and they could have at least asked the parents beforehand or offered an early pick up. It's not like this heat spike has come as a surprise!

No, today wasn't a surprise. As PP has rightly pointed out. Today (and tomorrow) is heatwave weather, Red warning. Parents chose to send their children to school. Don't blame the school for taking action to cool the children in their care down.

I know that not everybody has the choice to take their child home but, any that did and chose not to, shame on them and quit with the finger-wagging.

It's a froth thread for sure though, isn't it? Guaranteed to run and run.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 18/07/2022 16:31

I think some posters are enjoying the 'threat to life' heatwave threads a bit too much. Now that covid isn't such news, must have something to complain about.

Somethingneedstochange · 18/07/2022 16:31

Be better off in they're PE kits I wouldn't be happy. Some children suffer SA. I can't see many kids in vest's in this weather. Unless the girls have crop tops on.

The thing with modern schools is all the windows. They might make the classrooms have plenty of daylight but can also turn classes into an oven.

In other news our local academy has announced students can go in without a tie and blazer.🤔Still have to wear long sleeve shirt and boys still can't wear shorts.

Sherrystrull · 18/07/2022 16:32

SueSaid · 18/07/2022 16:27

'meh. My 5/6/7 year olds would all play on the beach in just pants/bikini bottoms.'

Yes and that is the correct environment but school isn't. I doubt the teachers were sat around in their underwear so why on earth would they have kids sat stripped off.

Posters repeatedly saying we did PE in our undies years ago, yes we did. But they don't anymore. Privacy, dignity and safeguarding rightly much more a thing nowadays.

I don't see how you feel that concerns about safeguarding, privacy and dignity apply in a classroom but not at a random beach/pool.

sunglassesonthetable · 18/07/2022 16:33

Yes and that is the correct environment but school isn't. I doubt the teachers were sat around in their underwear so why on earth would they have kids sat stripped off.

Err because it was hot .

Toddlerteaplease · 18/07/2022 16:44

Dillydollydingdong · 18/07/2022 14:47

We did PE in vest and pants when I was a young child. No one thought anything of it. I can't really see a problem.

I wouldn't care either.

inthewest · 18/07/2022 16:51

My school was lucky to acquire a few portable AC units for use in our EYFS classrooms and it made a world of difference. In the past, we have taken the children out into the garden for a water fight, and to play with the sprinklers.

Other parts of the school were pretty dreadful, but being with the youngest children, we were prioritized as they are more likely to feel unwell in heat, and it's far easier to move rooms when your day is spent mostly sitting at desks (ks2 went into other rooms).

nokidshere · 18/07/2022 17:01

It wouldn't have bothered me unless they were given no choice. The majority of children are quite comfortable running around half naked given the chance.

Runningupthathill01 · 18/07/2022 17:04

I am a teacher and there is no way on earth I would have done that. If I was seriously considering it as a drastic option (even though I wouldn’t) I would have run it past the headteacher.

As a parent I would check out the facts to find out what happened in case it wasn’t exactly as presented.

LakieLady · 18/07/2022 17:12

Sartre · 18/07/2022 15:07

When I was in primary school I swear we did PE in our underwear. I don’t think I’m making this up, I have really vivid memories of us doing PE in the hall in our little vests and undies. I’m talking reception/year 1 age max so no older than that but yeah, I’m sure that happened.

Probably isn’t appropriate in the present day.

We did PE in vests & pants all through primary. At least 3 of the girls had started their period in the last year of primary, too.

Things were very different in the '60s.

Tumbleweed101 · 18/07/2022 17:35

They are all small children under 6yo I think I’d be more concerned about heat than clothes on a day such as this. Our preschoolers will have been in underwear and teeshirts or in swimwear today to play in water and they are only a year younger.

It is difficult to keep such young children from running around together until they have made themselves too hot so they will have got much hotter at school than at home where they would be more likely to do quiet games. Keeping them safe from heat was the immediate priority today.

TuftyMarmoset · 18/07/2022 17:46

LakieLady · 18/07/2022 17:12

We did PE in vests & pants all through primary. At least 3 of the girls had started their period in the last year of primary, too.

Things were very different in the '60s.

Show quote history

Not just the 60s - I posted above that I did this at school in the early 2000s. Not in junior school though.

RockandRollsuicide · 18/07/2022 18:37

Op...

Had you been offered a choice today like many schools to send in, leave at lunch or don't go then I would have said your being extremely unreasonable as per r.post earlier
Teachera and school are in a bloody hard place! Trying to keep small DC well in an unprecedented extreme emergency situation!!
Imagine the pressure and the only tools they may have is a small window??

However,if your school did not give you these options and made you feel pressured to send the child in then I think you need to complain and say other schools have given options.

Don't send her tomorrow!!

Bussty · 18/07/2022 18:40

Schools are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Threads on here non-stop bitching about schools closing because they're unable to keep the students cool, and then threads on here complaining that they should've sent the students home if it's that hot. ...what does Mumsnet actually want here?!