AIBU that kids should be allowed to come in in PE kit on PE days rather than get changed

[PEpandemonium]

Interested to know how other schools are doing this. Our school has now decided to bring back the practice of kids having to get changed for PE as opposed to wearing PE kit on PE days. The rationale is that it is better for safeguarding, as staff can clock any bruises or marks.

The school is mixed sex and has no changing facilities so this means below year 5 girls and boys all getting changed together in a classroom which to my mind introduces a safeguarding risk. Like me, my daughter is an early developer, and in yr 4 has boobs and pubes. I don't think it is fair or safe for her to be changing with boys. I have horrible memories of being gawped at and having my towel grabbed off me when I was the only girl in class with boobs.

This has gone down like a sack of shit on all the WhatsApp threads.

How are other schools handling this? Have any schools relented?

My DD's school still allows them to come in their PE kits on the day and she is far more comfortable doing that than having to change in front of each other.

Our school has the kids wear PE kit all day on PE days, and has done since Covid. I think it's a good policy, I am sure it saves time as well.
The only thing is that the kit is white tshirts and the kids sometimes come home with lunch stains on them!

My DCs haven't ever gone to school in their PE kits, even in COVID times. Can she wear a crop top or vest on PE days? Obviously trickier if it's hot. Does that mean from next year they will separate them for changing?

Have you spoken to the teacher? They might be able to change the policy to include y4, or at least provide a space for your daughter to change.

I taught y4 and had this exact situation, a parent came to me to say her daughter was uncomfortable. I changed the arrangement that week.

Our school continues to allow PE kit on PE days. I think it's brilliant also because I don't need as much uniform/to do as much washing.

The safeguarding thing is a bollocks excuse, sorry.

I agree also re changing. Our school is the same that it's all mixed sex facilities. Although to be fair, when they did have to change they usually got all the girls in one classroom and the boys in another.

A safeguarding issue is if staff are watching the kids to notice bruises and marks. They are not allowed to stand and watch the kids change in that way. It also means an entire pe lesson gets taught if already changed rather than losing half to the changing process imo.

I've coke to the conclusion, for Primary kids, the best solution would be a uniform that they can do pe in... joggers, leggings or shorts with a polo or tshirt in school colours and a sweatshirt in school colours. They they can race around the playground, do forest school, cycle or walk to school comfortably, and do PE. Behave like children really.

My dd's school still allows them to go in wearing PE kit, which seems like a good policy. In fact, this is pretty much commonplace among all the parents I know. Seems like more of a safeguarding risk (and anxiety-inducing) for them to get changed in front of others.

Yes, ours go in in pe kit on PE days

This is exactly what our school has. They have a formal uniform but you can wear pe kit any day you want as well so most kids do. It makes it so much more comfortable for them all.

My daughter is not the best with modesty (SN). They have been learning about puberty this week, so have been talking about keeping your private parts private. She pointed out that for swimming this was not possible as everyone changes together (I think boys are separate for swimming). Just seems like such a regressive step

How many year 5 classes are there in the school? In my child’s school they have two classes per year. So all boys change in one classroom and all girls in the other. Would that be feasible?

Our primary school has always been come in wearing PE clothes on PE day and so do all local schools. I was actually really surprised when I found out on MN that children actually change for PE. I can understand secondary school students changing but can't imagine how much time and fuss it must be with younger primary school students.

I work in a school, and our kids have to get changed for PE. I don't like it, at all. I think it's wrong. 30 kids getting undressed in one room. I think they deserve privacy. It genuinely makes me uncomfortable. Also, I work in Year 1. Some of them still need help with getting clothes on and off. It wastes so much time from the actual PE lesson. And again, it makes me uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to get undressed in a room full of 30 people nor would I want my own DS to.

That is what happens year 5 up, but not year 4..

That's what DDs primary did for years 5 and 6

They also want the PE kit to stay in school on their peg. The assumption being yr 4 kids don't smell yet. Mine honks. One wear and wash

So the school are more or less encouraging the teachers to watch the kids getting changed to check for bruises? Cos that’s not weird at all!

DS is starting in September and they still wear PE kit on PE days. However I'm not sure this is the case for KS2.
When my DDs wein upper primary school (long before Covid) the girls used to get changed in the classroom and the boys in the cloakroom.

Ours go into school dressed for PE on PE days. It's the best solution IMO, saves a lot of time.

One of the best things about COVID was our primary switching to coming in in pe kits. I'm so glad it's stuck. The faff and time it took to change was such a waste of time. And inevitably resulted in more lost items of clothing..
My middle is autistic and he struggled changing so much. The frustration and use of TA to help his frustrated self was also pointless!

Our school also does exactly this. Much better for the kids.

Ours have to get changed as they say it helps with responsibility (remembering PE kit, time management getting changed etc.) and I agree. But the girls and boys change separately which is definitely fair after year 2.

It’s fine for primary age but I think it’s crappy at secondary. It’s lazy, looks scruffy and I’m thankful our school don’t do it!

I’m surprised they would go back to this. No changing for PE saves so much time. Also, this will be very uncomfortable for lots of the kids who have never before been expected to change in front of others .