Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep DD home from school?

52 replies

BurtTheDurt · 23/06/2024 10:04

I’ve posted before regarding the death of DDs headmaster and the many remembrance / memorial events her school has had.

Anyway, there is to be a dedication of a block at the school to him (it’s a renaming of an old block), and it’s to be a half-day event with the school taking an early lunch at 11.30 ready for the unveiling and speeches from 12.30 until 3pm. The event takes place outside on what is supposed to be the hottest day of the year. There will be no shade and the kids are to wear full uniform, no hats and no bottles of water visible. DD will be very near the front as her surname is at the start of the alphabet.

I don’t want her to go and have to sit in the heat in a shirt, blazer and trousers for hours without being able to drink anything. She sometimes suffers from nosebleeds when it’s hot and has really bad hayfever at the moment.

Shall I just keep her at home that day?

OP posts:
Witchcraftandhokum · 23/06/2024 10:08

Have you actually spoken to the school about the logistics of this? Are they really going to keep them outside in the sun with no shade or drink or is that what you think?

Mumoftwo1316 · 23/06/2024 10:11

Yanbu, it sounds a bit over the top.

Events in the school day should be for the pupils' benefit. I can see the benefit to them of one memorial assembly but events like dedicating a school block should be for the community (on a weekend) and not during school time

Original poster
BurtTheDurt · 23/06/2024 10:11

Witchcraftandhokum · 23/06/2024 10:08

Have you actually spoken to the school about the logistics of this? Are they really going to keep them outside in the sun with no shade or drink or is that what you think?

Getting hold of anyone at the school at this time of year is a nightmare, I’ve heard this from DD and a handful of her friends and a couple of parents. But I will call them tomorrow

OP posts:
Createausername1970 · 23/06/2024 10:11

If what you are saying is actually what is going to happen, I am surprised.

I wouldn't be happy having to stand (or sit) outside for 3 hours in the sun on a very hot day, so I wouldn't insist anyone did it.

Is this coming from the school or from DD?

Witchcraftandhokum · 23/06/2024 10:14

Getting hold of anyone at the school at this time of year is a nightmare, I’ve heard this from DD and a handful of her friends and a couple of parents. But I will call them tomorrow

Then you can make an informed decision.

Hoglet70 · 23/06/2024 10:16

It doesn't sound like she'll miss anything but if she wants to go then I would let her.

BiscuitsForever · 23/06/2024 10:16

I'm sure the teachers will have a plan for the hot weather. I don't really see any reason for her not to be in school.

greengreyblue · 23/06/2024 10:17

No school would suggest this without adequate protection. We’ve just sent letters out to parents re sun hats and water and spf. Are you sure there will not be a gazebo or that the shade of trees will be sought? Or that it will take place inside?

SparrowNest15 · 23/06/2024 10:17

If she is not bothered about being there I would keep her off. No hats or bottles sounds very silly . I am a teacher and have kept my own child off for a similar event .

DinnaeFashYersel · 23/06/2024 10:20

I'd be really surprised if this is actually the case.

Pupils do like to build a bit of drama

Do check the facts first

Starlightstarbright3 · 23/06/2024 10:21

unless she wants to go I would keep her home . It’s not like she is missing education - every day counts and that crap till the school think it’s more important .

it’s bloody hard to get authorised time off for funerals of people kids are close to unless immediate family

greengreyblue · 23/06/2024 10:21

Perhaps the unveiling will be outside and then inside for speeches. Who knows what the weather will be like? It may be that a decision will be taken closer to the event. I know we do at our school. We’ve sent out emails asking for parents who are willing to lend gazebos etc for sports day.

Original poster
BurtTheDurt · 23/06/2024 10:26

Sorry to drip-feed but the town mayor will be attending plus our current MP who is extremely high profile (a rather handy PR event for them!) so there will be lots of interest and photos taken. This would be why the event is outdoors.

I do apologise, I thought I’d added it to my initial post.

OP posts:
OhHelloMiss · 23/06/2024 10:27

Who has said it's the 'hottest day of the year'?

T1Dmama · 23/06/2024 10:29

Oh goodness… as a hayfever sufferer who remembers being sat at school with itchy eyes and a constantly drippy nose that can neither be blown or sniffed back up, itchy roof of mouth, other ears & constantly sneezing….. no I wouldn’t send her in!
3 hours seems extremely excessive though, a speech and a cutting of a ribbon should take half hour - hour maximum… expecting children to sit anywhere for 3 hours is unreasonable..
Will they be standing up and singing at some points? They’ll have to allow drinking and toilet breaks.
Sitting in the sun with no shade for 3 hours will see lots of children sunburnt and suffering heat stroke.

Phone or even pop in the school at drop off tomorrow and raise your concerns, if it’s 15-30 minutes outside followed by an assembly inside then fine… but 3 hours outside I’d be sending her in for the morning, picking her up after the early lunch for a doctors appointment or dentist and not returning her!

T1Dmama · 23/06/2024 10:36

Oh just seen your update… that doesn’t sound likely to be outside and no hats so the kids looks tidy!…. Phone and check what the POA is and make a decision based on that. Just pick her up before it starts or keep her home. Hayfever is torturous and people who are lucky enough to have never suffered with it will be saying ‘it’ll be fine’….. but 3 hours sat outside is my idea of hell!

Busyhedgehog · 23/06/2024 10:36

How hot is it meant to be? Most schools will put things in place to avoid pupils getting overheated. We've just had new parasols and canopies installed in the playground. (We've had some sun sails on the field before but they offered limited shade.)

I remember taking our Year 1s to a theme park on "the hottest day of the year" and parents being worried. Having been to the park before, I knew we'd be much cooler there than at school. There are lots of trees, a small stream and a water playground that the kids enjoyed. It may have been 35 degrees but they all had hats, suncream on and we refilled their water bottles frequently. Better than the school building that they refuse to put AC into. Perhaps talk to the school about what they are planning to do.

T1Dmama · 23/06/2024 10:39

T1Dmama · 23/06/2024 10:36

Oh just seen your update… that doesn’t sound likely to be outside and no hats so the kids looks tidy!…. Phone and check what the POA is and make a decision based on that. Just pick her up before it starts or keep her home. Hayfever is torturous and people who are lucky enough to have never suffered with it will be saying ‘it’ll be fine’….. but 3 hours sat outside is my idea of hell!

DOES sound likely even

MariaVT65 · 23/06/2024 10:47

I would call tomorrow and ask the direct question of what precautions will be in place for keeping everyone outside in the hot sun for 3 hours. Then make a decision. If they are considering how they want to ‘appear’ instead of health and safety, then by all means keep her off.

Original poster
BurtTheDurt · 23/06/2024 10:50

OhHelloMiss · 23/06/2024 10:27

Who has said it's the 'hottest day of the year'?

Hottest day so far.
It’s going to be 27 degrees here.
And the weathermen/women, Google, BBC, local news etc.

OP posts:
lemonmeringueno3 · 23/06/2024 10:50

I think the kids are exaggerating in an effort to get the day off.

Some daft parents are fuelling it.

There's no way they're keeping kids outside for 3 hours in full uniform, no hats or water bottles allowed.

Just phone the school for clarity.

Original poster
BurtTheDurt · 23/06/2024 10:53

Thanks for all replies. Yes I will call the school in the morning to double check.
The school does have a track record for creating photo ops and the like for this MP, they were here this past week to wave off the year 11s on their last day (complete with local reporter and photographer)

OP posts:
lemonmeringueno3 · 23/06/2024 11:03

I think I'd worry that, if everyone deemed this activity unsuitable and kept their child at home, then the event would be disappointing and that this would also be disrespectful. I would want to teach my children that duty matters and sometimes we do things for other people because it's the right thing to do.

Original poster
BurtTheDurt · 23/06/2024 11:10

lemonmeringueno3 · 23/06/2024 11:03

I think I'd worry that, if everyone deemed this activity unsuitable and kept their child at home, then the event would be disappointing and that this would also be disrespectful. I would want to teach my children that duty matters and sometimes we do things for other people because it's the right thing to do.

I do see where you’re coming from. But there has been tree planting, church services, assemblies, 2 books of condolence (one at school one at church), a graffiti-type wall for messages and laying of flowers since he passed, the majority of which DD has attended or contributed to (one was out of school hours and she couldn’t attend) so I don’t feel it would be disrespectful by not attending.

OP posts:
Original poster
BurtTheDurt · 23/06/2024 11:14

I love this thank you for sharing.

I did let her take a day off last year (she was very down after some issues with her father), we went for lunch and bowling and it was lovely to see her smiling again, and same, she still talks about it.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread