Year group on field at breaks, no where to sit to eat or shelter

[MegCleary]

Grand this week but winter is coming!
I emailed school saying not great and suggested maybe asking for marquee from a business etc not they can’t clean that was the reason for not doing this and they may crowd together.

What are other schools doing?

Bump

It will also be incredibly muddy ?

My DCs school is using marquees and there are lots of table and chairs outside in year groups for eating lunch and outside classes. After Oct half term, an entire playground is being covered by a weatherproof canopy. However, it’s a private school so funding is less of an issue.

I could suggest if parents could donate chairs maybe. Won’t be using the garden furniture for the rest of the year probably.

At DD's (primary) school, they eat lunch at their desks in the classroom. I would have thought that secondary age children could eat in their form rooms, at least those with packed lunches?

My DD's secondary has marquees and hay bales for them to sit on. It's like a wanky wedding .

DS's secondary has a sort of bell tent canopy with wooden seats.

Our kids are also eating in classrooms (older kids) or the hall (younger kids) and then playing outside for a shortened lunch break. They don't have any shelter outside, and never have done. If there's a wet break then they stay inside....

I would suspect that while the weather is fine they are asking the kids to eat on the grass like a picnic. When it gets wetter they'll change the system to inside eating. I personally wouldn't get worried about when it's wet until it becomes wet ....

I'd like to try and have a plan pre rain.

Dd school have a whole year group ( yr11) leaving school to have lunch in a public green space. Not sure how this works with the rule of 6. Sixth form along the road has no outside space of its own, so again they use public space. So they can sit in a group of 300 in the common room but cant go outside with 10 friends.

You complained to school about this?! Most kids are outside at breaks as a matter of course, because they want to be. They need the fresh air. My child ate his packed lunch outside yesterday and said he preferred it as theyd been in the same class most of the day.

At DD's (primary) school, they eat lunch at their desks in the classroom. The problem with that is that the guidance on indoor activities is that ventilation needs to be good. I'd be much happier with my child being turfed out so the classroom could have all windows and doors thrown wide open for a good airing over lunch break.

My school had a field that we could have lunch on too. We sat on the grass or our blazers. We walked around. If it rained we went to our classrooms as the hall wasn’t big enough for all the kids. I imagine your school will do similar.

Grand this week so really not an issue, why are you complaining about something which isn't an issue, when it is, and if they haven't made adequate provisions, then complain but really!!

Our lunch break time has been doubled with every year having 30 mins outside and inside in dining hall, but 10/60 mins end up queuing on playground in readiness to go in, queuing outside hall as previously year group still vacating and queuing at end waiting for their teacher. We have a year group of 105 (if every pupil in) and three staff in dinner hall, with members of staf regularly walking through. There is distance between classes but some crossover if say the teacher for the class at the far end collects them first, as they have to walk past others. Feel like we're herding the children around, but it reducing contact, gives them a change of scenery and generally they've taken it in their stride.

Ds's girlfriend got absolutely drenched on her first day back at school last Wednesday as they had to eat outside. Parents complained so they have at least been given chairs to sit on but no shelter.

@Sportsnight

My school had a field that we could have lunch on too. We sat on the grass or our blazers. We walked around. If it rained we went to our classrooms as the hall wasn’t big enough for all the kids. I imagine your school will do similar.

New covid rules, year group bubbles are allocated an area. Not allowe in normal classrooms outside designated times.

I’m trying to be proactive. I can empathize with the school, I’m a nurse and have been through the constant shifting of goalposts and advice. But why should I not access the hive wisdom and learn what other schools have done and see I if can help my child have a seat to eat and shelter when the weather turns.
They’ve been told to bring a good coat you’ll be out for all breaks and I’ve done that.
What harm am I doing by asking what other areas do?