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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect a four year old to be allowed to wear their PE kit under their clothes?

92 replies

tispity · 19/01/2010 12:52

this is our first experience of the state school system as dh is at prep school but it has emerged that some dcs have been doing this in ds' reception class. the school sent us a letter to say that they will suspend any child who does not bring their kit in a PE bag. ds really does not get sweaty - as is prob the case with most four year olds doing indoor PE

OP posts:
Original poster
tispity · 19/01/2010 12:53

sorrrry - dD is at prep school

OP posts:
TheresSnowDragonHere · 19/01/2010 12:54

Why on earth would you want to send your child in wearing their PE kit??

Having said that, suspending them is a little OTT.

mosschops30 · 19/01/2010 12:54

sorry why would you want a child to wear their pe kit under their clothes ?

Sassybeast · 19/01/2010 12:56

I can't imagine anything more irritating for an active 4 year old than being trussed up in 2 layers of clothes. Suspension is a bit strong but I wouldn't send a child to school wearing their PS kit under their clothes - bizarre IMO.

MadamDeathstare · 19/01/2010 12:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadamDeathstare · 19/01/2010 12:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fruitful · 19/01/2010 12:57

Wouldn't that be hot and uncomfortable? And more difficult actually - harder to take off a polo shirt and leave the PE shirt underneath IYSWIM, ds1 takes everything off in one go.

Just get them school uniform that is easy to do. Ds1 has pull-up trousers and a zip-up polo shirt, and wears a slightly big jumper on pe days.

Can't imagine them suspending a 4yo. That would be great, you could go to the park .

threetimemummy · 19/01/2010 12:57

I htink the point is that at that ae they are expected to be abl to get dressed themselves and IIRC it is actually one of the targets n the curriculum?? I dont think it is too much to ask them to change for PE?

Original poster
tispity · 19/01/2010 12:57

because ds can get upset as he has a rather big head and needs help with t shirts etc. - they have already said that they simply won't help any of the reception children to dress and undress

OP posts:
diddl · 19/01/2010 12:58

Suspension is harsh,but as others have said-why would you want your daughter to have her sports kit on under her uniform all day?

Does she have a problem that makes it difficult for her to get changed?

Original poster
tispity · 19/01/2010 12:59

fruitful - where can i buy zip up polo shirts?

OP posts:
gingernutlover · 19/01/2010 12:59

i dont think this has anything to do with it being a private/state school tbh

i expect parents have sent their children in wearing PE kit under uniform on pe days to save them time when changing, although it must be about 2 minutes seeing as how they would have to take off their uniform and put it all back on anyway

I can totally understand why the school want them to learn to do this themselves and so are saying the children must bring their kit in a bag and change with all the other children.

The suspension thing is just plain weird - is this the first time you've had a letter about it or have some parents just ignored other requests. I don't know why a school would supend a child for this reason. Do they mean proper suspension or just not doing the PE lesson?

fruitful · 19/01/2010 13:00

Get big tshirts.

Our school says that one of the main goals of PE in reception is to get them all able to get changed themselves. The bit in the middle is an added bonus I think!

And the teachers will have to help a bit. They're not going to leave half the class in the classroom cos they're still stuck inside their jumpers, are they?

Original poster
tispity · 19/01/2010 13:00

proper suspension i think - it was sent to all the reception parents

OP posts:
Buda · 19/01/2010 13:01

I think the whole getting changed for PE etc in Reception is to help them learn to do it themselves surely?

DS used to have PE first lesson and I suggested that they come in in PE kit and I was told that it was part of their development.

Maybe buy your DS bigger t-shirts if he has problems getting the current one over his head?

onepieceoflollipop · 19/01/2010 13:01

tispity I think you may have to work out ways of making this easier for your ds. For example, rather than wearing a t-shirt he could probably wear a polo shirt for pe? Easier for him to undo the buttons and plenty of head room.

My dd is now in year one. Last year the teacher often just let them change their shoes rather than get fully changed into pe kit.

Even if the "official" pe kit is a t-shirt, I am sure that if you have an informal chat with the teacher he or she would be more than happy to help think of a simple solution.

johnthepong · 19/01/2010 13:02

Seems ridiculous to send them with PE kit under their clothes. Getting themselves changed independantly is one of the main things they will learn from PE lessons.

Original poster
tispity · 19/01/2010 13:02

well they don't bother helping with zips on coats or even putting on coats if it comes to that - even in this weather. i am not sure whether they would help in the end

OP posts:
fruitful · 19/01/2010 13:02

x-posted. Zip-up polo shirts were from M&S.

You could just slit the neck of the PE shirt though (short vertical slit at front, hem sides of slit).

Hulababy · 19/01/2010 13:02

I can't see how they could possible suspend a child over this and I would take great issue with that aspect.

However by school age a child needs to be able to get themselves changes, SN excepted obviously.

Wearing two layers of clothes like this can't be good or comfortable surely? And definitely not an ideal scenario.

You need to make sure that the clothes a child goes to school in are clothes s/he can easily put on and off; ditto the PE kit.

If the school has a specific uniform that makes this difficult - such as a tie or tricky top button - then school should be willing to help children out in the first few months. I know DD's school did just this, until the girls could all manage their own buttons and ties, or able to help one another.

gingernutlover · 19/01/2010 13:02

they wont help 4 year olds when getting changed? at all? I think you have more to worry about than the threat of suspension.

I am a reception teacher and whilst I would arther the children got changed at school - its good practice - thoser that need help, get it! They may have to wait 5 minutes and therefore learn to do it themselves but if they genuinely need help no repspectable reception teacher would just sit and watch

fruitful · 19/01/2010 13:04

You can tell when the reception class had PE - they all come out at the end of the day with their clothes on back-to-front and inside-out.

Hulababy · 19/01/2010 13:05

Seen your post about school not helping with zips, etc. That does seem very off - TBH I would be wanting to have a word over that. Little ones still need help with zips for outdoor play. I help the Y1s in my class, plus other children up to Y2 in other classes.

Original poster
tispity · 19/01/2010 13:08

thanks -even i have probs doing up some of his zips so he is hardly going to manage all by himself. i just feel that it is unfair that some schools allow them to wear tracksuits and basically not change at all

OP posts:
FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 19/01/2010 13:08

And people think private schools are better!

PE kit under clothes is not going to help as she will still need to get her uniform off then pe kit off afterwards to them redress in uniform.

Get bigger clothes. Ask the teachers if they really won't help the children and what are they going to do if your dd really can not get the tshirt over her head.

My son is in reception and he has come home with his jumper on back to front, his trousers on back to front, his shoes on the wrong feet but I know they would help him if he needed it.