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 agree on raincoats but schools are the problem with shoes. I’ve been looking before my son starts in September and waterproof school shoes cost £50-60. Many parents won’t be able to afford that. Schools need to let kids come in wellies when it’s rainy and have spare shoes - or even slippers- for the classroom.

Perhaps it depends on the size of school and space available. Some of these comments about children having puddlesuits and wellies to hand only works if you have somewhere to store them and parents who are willing to provide them. Like many other posters on here mention, we have some parents drop their kids off with no coat, even in winter. There are only so many spares we can find and often these are smaller sizes so for any older child (or the taller younger ones) still have to go without.
Our playground also becomes unsafe, and we do see the number of accidents increase (I could evidence this using the accident book). For us we have minimal lunch cover so when accidents happen this then risks there not being enough adults on the playground if a child needs to be taken in for proper treatment.
Also agree about parent complaints. I had one this year who wrote a message to the teacher saying her son was wet all afternoon after being taken out a lunchtime in the rain. It's tricky to judge because working in a school I know that the children need that time to run around, but as a parent I know that my own kids (with their waterproof coats) do not like getting too wet and will be uncomfortable.
You can't win basically!

“The children learn to come to school with the correct clothing”

Are you under the impression that the children buy their own outdoor clothes?

Great that you work in a school where the parents have enough money to go and buy the new clothes (or are willing to forgo other necessities to please a power tripping TA who thinks “tough love” is more important than empathy to those in poverty).

Yes it’s crazy and sets up in their mind that they can’t/ shouldn’t go outside if it’s raining!!

Back in the good old days we were thrown out whatever the weather and there was nowhere to shelter.
Apart from when it snowed. It seemed very mean to throw us out whether rain or shine but the minute snow appeared it was 'too dangerous'

But in the 80s I didn't have a particularly waterproof coat. I think that sort of wear was much more expensive then and probably less available on the high street.. My coat would have been from m&s, ladybird (woolies), or a supermarket. We had waterproofs (PAC a Mac) for weekend showers but they would not have been smart enough for school. Mary Jane school shoes and those white socks that had the holey patterns were worn winter and summer. My mum spent her whole life keeping those socks white!
I was obsessed with making sure my kids had the right gear as a result.

Anyway, yes, I think kids should be able to go outside but I think they need places for shelter too and obviously running in and out can't happen as it makes the corridors slippy.

I can feel my mum coming on. "You're either in or you're out!"

It’s because of parents they keep them in. Some parents keep children off school if it’s really windy so would be v cross if their little darlings got a bit damp 🙂

In my first secondary headship (late 90s), I once had a local councillor ring up on behalf of a parent to berate me about a Y9 boy who had got soaking wet at lunchtime because of "Your policy in not allowing the children to stay in if it's raining".

She was a bit lost for words when I told her that our policy was that the children could always stay inside, whatever the weather, so the boy had clearly chosen to go out in the pouring rain.

I'm having (nostalgic) flashbacks of hordes of us kids sheltering under the tin bike shed roof in a sudden downpour, followed by a steam-filled classroom as thirty kids slowly dry out in the warmth of the afternoon classroom.

I think making a warm waterproof coat part of the school uniform is a brilliant idea. Primary school uniform policies can be very detailed but they often have nothing to say about coats.

There is an annual collection here for children who don't have a winter coat or shoes to go to school in.
I think puddle suits and wellies would be described as luxuries.

It would be great if schools could provide waterproofs and wellies just as nursery do.

But with nursery you might spend 10-15 minutes getting all the children into their outdoor gear, then 10-15 minutes getting them out of in again, plus changing any children who did get wet.
In schools where the kids might just have 15-30 minutes at a time outside, it just isn't worth putting waterproofs on and changing shoes.

Breaks are only 15 minutes long in my country but the kids get very quick at putting on waterproofs and boots in order to maximise their playtime. Perhaps not so quick to take them off again when its time to go back into lessons though

Edit: they repeat this every hour, so get a lot of practice to speed them up

They can afford Ugg boots and other designer labels. We are in an affluent area, 4x4s etc. Money is not the issue. The issue is that parents transport their children to school so don’t think about the weather.

Yes I think this is true, especially for children who get dropped at breakfast club so aren't waiting in the playground in the morning it's easy for parents to 'forget' that the child needs a coat for the rest of the day.

I do recall a particularly firm parent though whose son refused to wear a coat one day in the rain so she just said fine. While I like this kind of attitude of let them learn from it, it then makes it difficult if they are the only one without a coat, there isn't a spare and you want to take everyone else outside.