to keep DS1 off school tomorrow

[acebaby]

Genuine AIBU! Tomorrow DS1 has swimming in a 'heated' outdoor pool at school. He is 4.10, and dislikes swimming. My general feeling is that he has to put up with it because it is on the school curriculum, and that in any case learning to swim is an essential skill. However, this week he has a rotten cold. The school run a strict 'if they are able to come to school they are able to do all sport' policy (another AIBU there!), so off games is not an option.

So AIBU to keep him off school tomorrow so that he has a chance to get over his cold and so that he doesn't have to go swimming in a freezing outdoor pool - on a cold day - with a streaming nose and sore throat? Or am I being totally PFB and encouraging him to make a fuss about swimming? Incidentally, he isn't one to beg for days of school (really loves it there other than swimming) and does not make a big thing out of being ill.

have you asked your ds what he wants to do?

I'd keep him off because I wouldn't want him outdoors wet with a bad cold.

But would make it clear to him that it's because he has a cold rather than he doesn't like swimming.

Also I think it's crazy that it's all or nothing with school. Often a child is well enough for ordinary school, but not to expend all his energy on games, and I think it's much better not to miss school work when able for it.

If he has a streaming cold and sore throat he should be off school anyway

no YABU. Keep him home. If you become cold and wet while ill with a cold, then that can make the cold worse and you more vulnerable to further symptoms such as an ear or chest infection.

'if they are able to come to school they are able to do all sport' policy'

what a stupid policy! What about a child with a broken arm? Do they also have to take part in all sports? I would certainly question that policy.

At the age of 4.10 school isn't compulsory anyway.

actually yes, probably not a good idea to ask him LOL

i would keep him off and tell that school that you feel forced to do so due to their policy on the swimming.

I would usually only keep a child out of school if they had a temperature and were feeling generally very unwell.

I would ring the reacher and say he can't swim due to hiscold
they don't even have to go to school until they're 5 so don't know how they can force him to swim
but maybe he isn't well enough to be at school anyway, is he there today?

If he has a streaming nose and sore throat he should be at home anyway.

Shaz, there are plenty of schools who will lecture you on keeping a child at home unless they have a high temperature. I have had countless lectures on the subject.

I agree with you in theory, but know this attitude would get me into trouble with ds' school.

I was asthmatic as a child and that is a ridiculous policy.

So does that mean a child with a broken bone either has to do sport or miss school.

I missed weeks and weeks of school during the winter months anyway. That sort of policy would have meant I virtually never attended school between November and February.

cory in that case I'd just misbehave and fake a temperature! (I am a teacher who just loves it when the sneezers come in...blee!)

Thanks all. I did consider keeping him off today, but he has no temperature, ate all his breakfast and was pretty energetic. He was also very desperate to go to school today, so I sent him in with a note telling them not to hesitate to call if he seemed to get very tired or get worse. Sending him in was maybe not the best decision on my part

I'll keep him off tomorrow and we'll have a nice quiet day planting some stuff in the garden.

Glad I'm not the only one to thing that the all or nothing policy at his school is daft! Is it normal at other schools btw? I think that there are exceptions made for children with limbs in plaster or with chronic conditions but not for children with colds

I'm surprised they take the four year olds swimming tbh. Unless the class sizes are very small it sounds an absolute nightmare to me! 30 four year olds probably most non swimmers bobbing about.....no way!

I think it's at age 8 that swimming comes onto the curriculum round 'ere which is MUCH more sensible imo.

but anyway...no, personally I would not send a 4 yr old with heavy cold swimming in an outdoor pool, no. so I'd keep him off.

My children have gone swimming with school since the age of 4 and exceptions are not made for colds. However the pool is a heated indoor pool. They do have to walk to and from there (the pool is in the neighbouring High School) but its not the same as actually swimming outside.

Shaz, glad to hear that somebody has common sense!

Unfortunately, what we have round our way is an obsession with attendance statistics and (at least previously) a headteacher who was unable to work out that bringing the sneezers in wouldn't actually raise his attendance figures in the long run.

Sorry - cross posts. Yes they do take the reception class swimming. There are 12 of them and they have the two class teachers by the side and also two games staff - one of whom is in the water. at least half the class are already competent swimmers (not poor DS1 though) so I think it is safe although a bit unpleasant.

heated indoor pools are worse btw. Absolutely swarming with bugs in a lovely warm soup of snot, pee, spit etc, and at just the the right temperature to multiply to infinity.