AIBU to think that schools should only keep the kids inside at break and lunch times if there is Monsoon-level rain. Not letting them out because there's a bit of a shower is insane.

[worrisomeasset]

As a primary supply, I've noticed that schools have wildly varying criteria for calling a 'wet play'. A few, very wisely, are loathe to keep the kids in and will only do so if there's Monsoon-style precipitation. However, far too many will announce it's wet play if there's just a bit of drizzle. I've also been in schools where the pupils haven't been allowed out because it's snowing (why???) and I've been in one place where they wouldn't let them out because it was too cold! Just to be clear, I teach in England, where it is never too cold to go outside for a while.

Going out and working off some energy at break times is good for the children and it's also good for the staff - it's very easy to tell when a class has had to stay in at break! It bloody infuriates me when I'm told a class has to stay in because there's a bit of drizzle outside.

I was the child who used to sneak back into the classroom at playtime and hide behind the bookshelves to sit on the hot radiator pipes that ran round the skirtings. I hated being cold and am still the same to this day!

If parents provided proper water proofs and wellies then we could. But in reality many come in wearing unsuitable coats and shoes, we don’t have facilities to dry everyone off!

In early years we do try to have as much time outside as possible but we also have to say no to children if they don’t have suitable outdoors wear (or we can’t cobble something together for them!)

We simply have too many children turn up without coats. I had one last week who didn't even have a jumper because he couldn't find it - it was 7degrees.

And the poor staff on duty get soaked too.

YABU. Even if it's only 'a bit of a shower' the kids will get wet, and be sitting in wet clothes all afternoon. I wouldn't be too happy if my DC told me they had been let outside at break and lunch when it was raining on them, and they had to sit for the rest of the day in wet clothes!

Apart from the valid points everyone has already made, we have some teachers who have health conditions that become severe in damp conditions, think breathing difficulties. We take ours into the hall and play games, the children love it.
I have no intention of taking any advice from a judgey supply teacher who won’t be receiving any wrath from the parents for children being damp half the day.

On the parents note I have been told I am “fucking ridiculous” by a parent because I took her child outside when it was drizzling! We can’t do right for doing wrong.

The trouble for my DC when they were at school, was the lack of space to hang wet coats. So if they got wet in morning break, their coats were wet for lunchtime and afternoon break and walking home. I didn’t mind them getting wet but it annoyed me that they were having to go out again and again wearing a wet coat. They didn’t have pegs, only lockers where coats were scrunched up!

Then the answer is that the children need to be clothed in decent coats.

At our preschool the 2-4 year olds are out in snow, ice rain. They put puddle suits on and do forest school even if it's raining

They all have to have a fleece lined, water proof school coat. It's part of the uniform.

I loathe wet play. I do break and lunch duty every day and I would much rather get wet than supervise wet play.

The children need to get outside and run around. The afternoons on wet play days are hideous for everybody.

As with so many things, we're damned if we do and damned if we don't! If we send them out, parents will complain that their child was traumatised by being cold and wet. If we keep them inside, parents will complain that we've violated their child's basic human rights by denying them fresh air and exercise. We can't win.

No such thing as inappropriate weather, just inappropriate clothing for the conditions. I am a TA who will take the children out in monsoon rain. The amount of children who turn up in ridiculous foot wear is insane. Ugg boots anyone. My mantra is “ you will not spontaneously combust because it’s raining” needs explaining but they soon get the message. My other mantra is “natural consequences” if you come to school with no coat and inappropriate footwear - tough, you will get wet and cold. Funnily enough the children learn to come to school with the correct clothing. I am a big fan of tough love and it works.

Primary teacher of 20 years here and in a word parents! Either not sending them in with appropriate clothing or complaining about them going out!

Of all the challenges that life throws at us, there are few that are worse than having to teach a Year 6 class for an afternoon on a day when they've had a wet play and a wet lunchtime.

I think there's a bit of a difference between an affluent rural area where most children would have clothing appropriate for the weather and a deprived inner city area where parent(s) may be struggling to feed and clothe children while keeping a roof over their heads.

Soggy kids start to steam in the uncontrollable heating.

I completely agree they should be outside unless it's a hurricane.

But I voted YABU because if you work in a school then surely you must know how much the parents complain and just how risk averse we need to be.
Need to be, not want to be.

If nurseries can manage getting kids outside most days why can’t schools?

They need wellies, raincoat and change of clothes, like at nursery.

Fresh air and activity are far too important for both their physical health and the positive impact on ability to listen and concentrate for this not to be a priority for schools.

Maybe more schools should ditch some of ridiculous parts of their school uniform - blazers, formal trousers- and focus on clothing that actually benefits the kids.

I agree
id rather my kids were warm and dry than being outside in the rain
I don’t send them out to play in the garden in the rain so why would schools do this?

Your kids don't need to be 'warm and dry' all day, you're not raising orchids.

There is nothing worse than being on playground duty in the rain. You end up wet & cold, the kids are the same. Everything is muddy, the entrance hall is wet & muddy when everyone comes back in. If the rain stops later in the day we try & get everyone out for a run around also you wouldn’t believe the amount of complaints we have from parents if there kids are sitting in wet /damp clothes in the classroom.

Maybe not but I also don’t want them cold and wet and uncomfortable for no reason they just end up with colds!

Colds are caused by viruses, not air temperature.

You can dress your children in waterproof coats though, then 'a bit of a shower' won't be an issue (heavier rain is a different matter, with ridiculous school uniform shoes)

So many parents on here dodging their duty to dress their child appropriately for weather. Surely the warmth and waterproofing of coats and school shoes should be the very first thing you look for? Sandals or pumps etc are wholly inadequate shoes for school kids. You need waterproof shoes that cover the foot entirely, obviously.

Don’t want a wet child? Take some responsibility yourself.