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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To complain to the school.

82 replies

honeymom · 21/06/2010 11:22

That they think it's appropriate to take children on an educational trip to the beach today, where there is very little shade and the children will be exposed to the midday sun for nearly 5 hours, even with good suncream reapplied regually I would never keep my children in the sun for that long, So why on earth would the school think it's a good idea?

It seems that if you are a school you can just ignore Every bit of sun safety information out there? should I complain or am I be unreasonable?

OP posts:

fernie3 · 21/06/2010 11:24

Depends if they really will be out on the beach for 5 hours straight - our nursery takes the children to the beach but they go into the little cafe or icecream place as well so its broken up.

GypsyMoth · 21/06/2010 11:24

yabu!!

kreecherlivesupstairs · 21/06/2010 11:25

If they are going today it's too late already. If it is in the future, put your concerns to them before they go. Alternatively, dress your LO in long sleeves and legs and add a hat.
I would pay money for the sun to be shining, we've had nothing but rain for about 7 years (or so it feels)

scurryfunge · 21/06/2010 11:25

I don't think they are likely to peg the children out on the beach...they will be in and out of the sun doing all sorts.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:26

Oh Honeymom, I feel exactly the same. I really don't understand why they wouldn't do school trips in cooler weather. My other thread on the primary ed section was about my dd being allowed to get sunstroke last week, whilst sitting in full afternoon sun with no hat! She was very ill. I haven't told the school as they make me feel stupid for any concern I show over my own child!

DD is on a day trip to a theme park this friday (not going on rides -a One World Day) and I'm worried she'll get ill again.

I would defo complain.

Original poster

honeymom · 21/06/2010 11:26

the coach was dropping them there at half 9 and picking them up at half 2, they have no plans to stop in a cafe as I asked, they seemed to think sun cream and hats was enough.

OP posts:

Lindy · 21/06/2010 11:26

Sounds wonderful - if it was me I'd volunteer to join them !

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:27

The thing is, they think they know better than us, the parents........and they don't.
So did your dd go then?

toccatanfudge · 21/06/2010 11:28

I think it sounds fab.

And.........I'm not usually a pedant - but I can't help but wonder how they can be in the midday sun.........for 5hrs

Original poster

honeymom · 21/06/2010 11:29

we were only told about the trip on Friday so not really any time to think about in until this morning when I was creaming them up and thinking that it wasn't going to be enough, I asked if they were going to be on the beach all day and they said yes,

OP posts:

Morloth · 21/06/2010 11:30

I am as sun obsessed as they come and think that as long as hats/sun cream are worn and plenty of water to drink then this is fine.

DS's school are spending the whole day outdoors today. Good. I did sun screen before he left and the teachers will ensure it is re-applied every couple of hours, we were out all weekend in the glorious weather.

Not single spot of sun burn on any of us. Kids are pretty tough you know.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:30

Annoying too how they're all saying they're not allowed to reapply suncream themselves or for your child at school. Our school has told parents to buy all day suncream - stupid idea - it's like whale blubber!

Carbonated · 21/06/2010 11:31

Perhaps you should suggest that their next beach trip is in October? Or if you are really successful they might not ever go again.

If your DD is too frail to withstand the rigours of a trip to the seaside, a trip which thousands of school children manage every year without serious injury, then perhaps you should keep her at home that day.

Original poster

honeymom · 21/06/2010 11:31

Sorry ok 11-3 is classed as midday {biscuit} so not 5 hours midday but 5 hours total, I burn easily having red Hair I could never spend that long in the sun, Yes they went but i'm thinking of driving to get them but I was just trying to work out if I was being unreasonable.

OP posts:

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:32

I also wonder why they don't do sports day in April/May time. Surely better than making the kids sit in the hot sun for 2/3 hours in July.

Morloth · 21/06/2010 11:33

luciemule "...they're not allowed to reapply suncream themselves or for your child at school."

Now that I would have a problem with - is that standard? Our teachers do the kids every couple of hours and carry a esky/backpack thing with water and fruit for them. Same as when I was at school. Thought that was normal.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:33

YANBU imo, especially if you have such fair skin and red hair. If you're not happy, go and pick them up. I would never go and sit on a beach between 11-3 with the family so why should I let my kids do it. I too burn easily and can't stand the heat - nor can my kids, who also burn very easily.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:35

Morloth Nope - DD has been to 3 primaries in different counties and all 3 would not reapply suncream or let the kids do it. I give dd some cream in her pe bag and she tries to sneak in without being caught at lunch times.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:37

As an aside, the british army take sunstroke VERY seriously and won't allow their soldiers to get ill at all. If anyone does get sunstroke, it's a trip to the med centre and a day off work. They are extremely cautious when in the sun so if the whole army can be like that, why can't the schools that teach/look after our children.

Firawla · 21/06/2010 11:37

they should bring some kind of shade like a tent thing or beach umbrellas etc.. but otherwise i wouldnt have a problem with it personally, if you're children are very light and prone to sunburn i suppose its different.
not allowing the children themselves to reapply suncream is wrong though, i agree with you on that and it seems quite crazy

Morloth · 21/06/2010 11:38

That is bizarre luciemule, admittedly I only have experience of Australian schools and DS's school where they don't let the kids do it because it probably won't get done correctly.

MmeLindt · 21/06/2010 11:41

I don't see the problem as long as the children have sun cream and hats on.

My DC have had sports days this year and they do have a bit of shade but a lot of the time they are in the sun. They are constantly told to drink and keep their hats on.

If the coach is dropping them off at 9.30 am and picking them up at 2pm then they are only outside for about 4 hours, taking off 15 mins each side for getting them on and off the bus, going to loo etc.

MmeLindt · 21/06/2010 11:43

Luciemule
I would however complain to the school in your case. DD had sunstroke last year when my mum took her to the beach and they were in the sun without a hat and she was really quite ill. I almost took her to A&E.

OrmRenewed · 21/06/2010 11:43

What fun!

Must be stopped! At once.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 11:45

Well obviously Morloth Australia are totally more sun aware than many people in the UK.
The UK should take a leaf out of your book and apply it for them if they're young and let the older ones reapply.
Read an worrying article yesterday actually saying that it could be the sun creams causing free radical damage to our cells and actually causing skin cancer! Not sure about the evidence there but said they had tested urine and found people had suncream ingredients beiing absorbed into the blood stream.

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