Schools leaving windows open during winter

[Helenj1977]

I have 2 children at school and my eldest has been told that windows will be open during the winter, they can wear coats. My nephew is in reception and my sil has been told the same.

I get why but seriously how can that be good for them?? I can't imagine them learning much if they're sat shivering.

Reception are outside a lot anyway. Ours can go outside a lot

More coughs and high temps then on the way. More children out of class.

I know, I thought the same. The middle of winter and they're all set there shivering! Ridiculous

It's nowhere near cold enough for them to be sitting shivering. As pp said; they're outside loads anyway.

Not cold yet, but come winter it will be.

The heating will still be on, so it shouldn't be too cold, well my kids school never is, it's always stuffy. I wouldn't be happy if my kids complained of being cold all day though it's miserable.

I'm doing the same at work. My colleagues are moaning but tough, there is no ventilation in my office.

My husband has Raynaud's but he'd prefer ventilation in his classroom than covid. What's the alternative, closing schools again?

I remember when I was at sixth form that windows were open throughout the winter due to a combination of a heating system that could be set to 'on' or 'off' which made the classrooms too hot and the odours produced by some students and teachers (especially the group in the maths classroom before my lesson on a Monday to the extent that we typically turned up with various types of air freshener and other aerosols and refused to enter the room for several minutes while the smell dispersed on occasion typically with the teachers permission) meaning ventilation was needed to reduce the smells.

Schools esp reception classes often have doors open for kids to play outside anyway. (And the school heating, in primary anyway at about 30°!!!)
Both my DC school have told parents the windows will be open and that they will need extra layers.

Good. The classrooms need ventilation. Have you ever been in a classroom? They stink.

This is a good idea. The heating will be on and there will be fresh air coming in. I can’t see the angst here.

AFAIK fresh air doesn’t harm you.

Fresh air has been shown to reduce virus levels and transmission - I'd be glad if I were you.
Studies have shown that Florence Nightingale was right to keep all the windows open on her wards to reduce infection.
I hate going to my GP (in normal times when it was open) as the waiting room windows were always closed so it was like a big holding pen for all the viruses brought in throughout the day. A few open windows greatly reduces virus levels and transmission.

Out of interest, does anyone know if open windows actually help reduce the spread of Covid in classrooms?

Reception kids don't really sit. They do mostly play-based indoor and outdoor with small pockets of sitting on the carpet (5mins at a time).

A vest, long sleeved top, microfleece and gillet would be a perfect amount of layers to keep him warm and still have good movement for playing.

That age are usually walking/running around for most of the day anyway.

They have to be open for ventilation or we can't be COVID secure (which is a joke anyway as we are now seeing cases actually spread through the kids). It will be freezing so I've been buying cardigans etc that just stay at school during the week. The other option is a very stuffy room with (during my last lesson) 25 A level students. I've also told them to stock up on hoodies and giant scarves, if we stay open that is.

@TweeterandtheMonkeyman

Out of interest, does anyone know if open windows actually help reduce the spread of Covid in classrooms?

Yes, I don't have all the links as my husband is the one who has been researching it but its about airflow and dispertion of aerosol and how long droplets stay in the air and the rate they fall at.

Pretty much the only protection a teacher has against covid is that open window.

But sure, let’s bin that too.

I’m a secondary school teacher. We have very limited resources to make a school ‘Covid secure’. Opening windows is one measure in our risk assessment we can just about manage.

Excellent. It will be well ventilated so less risk of Covid and safer all round. Sensible thing to do.

Thermals. Warm socks. They'll be fine. It's the UK, not Alaska!

Better to have ventilation than COVID

My son is in Yr 1. He’s still wearing shorts to school, no jumper or coat. Schools are hot!

Would you rather there was no fresh air in the classroom, so the virus can just linger in the classroom, which I assume can increase the viral load

You’re lucky they have windows that open!! I’ve always moaned that my subject is housed in the old building at school, when there’s a brand new building.
However, now loving we can open the windows wife and the new build doesn’t even have windows that open!

Think of those children and staff that will be in classrooms where windows don't open, or where there are no windows. They are pretty much buggered if the virus gets in that classroom.

My Reception class door was usually open. In fact, the more fresh air and cooler temperature the fewer children were off sick. One winter I had a nursery class in temporary accommodation with outside toilets so the door was open constantly. The children were healthier than ever. Just dress your children warmly.

Vests? Thermal underwear? I told my secondary students to invest in these, along with tights and/or trousers to keep warm for this very reason.