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?

Yep my kids secondary school lets them come in wearing PE kit if they have PE or a sports club that day.

It's saved us buying so much school uniform.

It's a really nice, smart looking kit and still looks like new after a year or so.

It washes and dries much quicker so easy for next day if needed.

Less to lug around school too.

Boys and girls won't (or should not ) get changed altogether at this age. One group will get changed in the loos and the other in the classroom.

This seems crazy. I am in Ireland though so it's a different context. But why oh why would anyone want to waste time having children change their clothes (twice!!) in school? The safeguarding thing sounds like a bit of a made up excuse. I honestly think no teacher wants to be scrutinising children as they change to look for marks on their bodies. That would be so uncomfortable for everyone.

I'm a teacher. The school I work in is the complete opposite of this situation. The uniform is a sports material (quick dry) tracksuit and polo shirt. The children have frequent active lessons, both indoors and outdoors. We can do physical activity, stretches, yoga, anything at a moment's notice with a whole class or small groups, if it is appropriate (eg wake up, help sensory Regulation etc). It is unisex so no need for any drama about who wears what style clothes.
I'm also a parent. The uniform dries on the back of a chair overnight, best thing ever. And because it's unisex I can pass them down between brothers and sisters. Even my youngest could dress herself for school from day 1. No fiddling with buttons and ties. It's fantastic.

There was a lot of angst and division in the school community when the parents were asked to vote on ditching the traditional uniform + PE outfit (worn 2 days). I voted to keep the pinafores myself!!!! But honestly this has been a game changer. Best thing ever.

Yes, it's a life skill to learn to get dressed but children should learn it at home. Why do schools need to teach it?

Well if boys and girls are changing together i would have an issue with it. Otherwise I'd be grateful I don't have to remember which days are or days 😂

That's what our primary does. They have an official PE kit that mirrors the uniform. Embroidered hoodie, white tshirt black joggers.

YANBU my DD's school does exactly this. For days when there's swimming they even wear their swimmers under their PE kit.

One of my friends had PE twice in one day. We had 6 periods (lessons) a day. Wasn’t double PE but was 2nd (before break) and 5th lesson (after lunch) and they were expected to get changed for the other two lessons between!

My kids (not in the uk) have always worn their PE kits on PE days. Makes it a lot easier

That's absolutely bizarre. So the teachers are going to stand and watch them get changed to look for bruises twice a week??? No way would I be allowing that.

Ask that they separate them
Earlier perhaps all of juniors

My kids school insisted they changed together in a single classroom even up to year 6. My daughter became uncomfortable from year 3/4. She would wear her pe kit under her school uniform to start with - until I realised. I spoke to the school and she was allowed to change in the toilets- but very few toilets and they were generally grim with wee on the floor etc. she also felt uncomfortable with some of the boys 'showing off' in their pants etc

School absolutely refused to allow kids to come in in pe kit. This, along with not allowing kids to drink water other than at break or lunch, were 2 of my bugbears

Our reception class get changed for PE in their classroom. As silly as it sounds it’s so they can learn how to dress themselves.
Year 1 and up come in wearing kit though. Only exception is swimming but the children are in separate changing rooms for that.

OP, the issue here is the fact that they make them change without separating boys and girls. Totally unacceptable for children older than 7-8.

I think secondary kids need to take PE kit and get changed because they often stink after PE.

primary, however, should wear PE kit to go to school. It’s so so much easier.

I would be annoyed if my year 4 daughters school went back to taking PE kit in but I would absolutely not be happy about year 4 boys and girls changing together. Many 9 year olds have breast buds and shouldn’t be changing in a communal space with the boys. I wouldn’t allow it to be honest. My daughter hasn’t started puberty yet but would still be hugely uncomfortable changing with the boys in year 4. Id say she either comes in her PE kit or she’s given a single sex area to get changed in.

I don't mean this rudely but you do know children learn to dress themselves at home in other countries and somehow manage. Why that is on the primary curriculum is baffling to me.

Children In early years here are well able to put on off jumpers, rain pull ups and wellies etc. They also learn little hacks for coats, zips etx which really boosts their independence.

Regarding older teens surely they can bring in a fresh t-shirt to freshen up rather than get into a uniform again and save extra laundry and time pressure on keeping an expensive jumper ready for school.

Do your DC not get dressed and undressed at home, though?

Honestly the amount of children who come into reception unable to dress themselves is sad. I agree it should be taught at home but for the majority of kids at my school it clearly isn’t. Even in year 2 some children struggle to zip up coats.

Totally agree. This would surely make the most sense.

Wow, I think this is the closest to unanimous I have ever seen on a thread. I just don't get the thinking. She is a relatively new head and she has just given parents a really good reason to doubt her leadership. The letter was really odd, the rationale not explained at all, so it just seems like she did what she wanted.
And, to make things worse, the parents were asked via the parent forum and the opinion was overwhelmingly to keep as is.

We have PE twice a week as well as other activities. Such a lot of time spent faffing about.