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.

It's good that schools are telling parents now that windows will be open throughout the winter as it gives them a chance to forward plan. Buy your children and nephew thermal tops, trousers and socks to layer up underneath their school uniforms if they are children who feel the cold. I have one child who really feels the cold and one who doesn't so they'll be equipped accordingly.

DH and I are both teachers so will also be wearing thermals under our school clothes if need be. I'd much prefer to be a bit chilly from teaching in a classroom with an open window and some fresh(ish) air than being shut in a stuffy box with 30 or so children. One of the classrooms I was in today was hot and stuffy because there are no window coverings and the windows were closed. I said the window needed to be opened if we were going to stay there because, as others have said, it's pretty much the only thing we have at our disposal in schools.

I visit a lot of schools and some are boiling but others are freezing!
Working outside is different from sitting still in a cold classroom which is pretty miserable.
Nevertheless ventilation is vital and kids and teachers will have to get used to wearing layers-maybe some hand warmers?!

It’ll be in the Covid risk assessment as essential. Non negotiable, I’m afraid. Pretty horrible for pupils and teachers, but then everything is pretty horrible in schools currently, not least the levels of transmission. Safer to have them open than closed, but schools are still unsafe IMHO.

@Helenj1977 if you are unhappy move schools

Coats on, windows open. If this keeps schools open and is better for kids and teachers I can't see the problem.

My lab gets down to 13 degrees in the winter with the windows closed. Not looking forward to the next few months!

@Char2015

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

You can't catch a cold or cough from being cold!

Maybe my son ( yr 4 ) will finally be able to wear trousers and his school jumper this winter. He wears shorts and his poli shirt all year because the classrooms are far too hot.

@Positivevibesonlyplease

It’ll be in the Covid risk assessment as essential. Non negotiable, I’m afraid. Pretty horrible for pupils and teachers, but then everything is pretty horrible in schools currently, not least the levels of transmission. Safer to have them open than closed, but schools are still unsafe IMHO.

This.

Excellent, I hope our schools do this too

I was really cold today. But what can I do? We don't want to sit and breathe the same air every other class has breathed.

My sixth formers were saying the room was cold (it really wasn't) and I told them they could bring and wear a coat. They asked if they were allowed to wear hat, scarf and gloves - I said yes and they seemed happy with that. I'm investing in some warm underlayers as I have primary Raynaud's - mainly need something for my feet...

People are cold today because it's such a drop from yesterday. Yesterday, it was 20 Celsius at this time of day, today, it's 16 and raining. If it were 16 Celsius in January, we'd be in shorts and T-shirts.

Ventilation is vital for the coming months. And, after all, vests, socks and jumpers were made for exactly this reason - to keep us feeling warmer than the outside air.

When I was a baby it was the done thing to wrap babies up and let them nap in their pram in freezing weather.

There was a recent post on MN which had a brilliant illustration at how coronavirus spreads in rooms with no ventilation or windows.

Schools are horrendously stuffy anyway so this can only be a good thing.

Is there literally nothing that an OP won't moan about, no wonder we're stuck with generations of snowflakes.

If your child is shivering indoors with the heating on they must be improperly dressed or already ill, get a grip for heavens sake.

I'm actually pretty heartened that most posters think YABU. Iwouldn't be surprised if overall health is better this winter with children getting lots of fresh air

I've seen a few press articles about parents up in arms at windows being open.

I'm assuming in primary school they're not wide open as that presumably a hazard? In secondary it'd be an opportunity so I'm assuming no more than half open.

In my old school at least most of the window openings were above head level.

Is there a national ban on central heating? I'd assume they'll notch it up a bit as the unions won't be impressed if staff are scraping icicles off the white board.

Surely you'll just put an extra layer on them?

@Atomsaway

My lab gets down to 13 degrees in the winter with the windows closed. Not looking forward to the next few months!

Maybe start speaking to them now about heating. *Minimum workplace temperature The Approved Code of Practice suggests the minimum temperature in a workplace should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius*

I’m a believer in the phrase “There is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes.” Just wear more layers. How many children love to play in the snow or go skiing?

Colds are not caused by being cold...

My only concern is for children with disabilities like CP who do need a warmer temperature in order for their muscles to relax a bit. Hopefully there will be some work arounds-sitting them near the radiators / using heat packs or something.

Sitting still at a desk for hours at a time is not the same as running about outside keeping warm. I live on the edge of the Scottish highlands, and it can reach minus twenty here in a bad winter. I don’t envy the poor kids and staff shivering through a day of that! But until we get an effective vaccine, ventilation, sunlight, social distancing, masks and sanitiser are all we have.

All of my classes have whinged about the windows today. I've told them to layer up because that is how it's going to be. Parents can like it or lump it - it's that or distance learning as far as I'm concerned.

For goodness' sake, the fresh air will do them good and keep them safer. Nothing worse than being in an over-heated environment with no cool air. Good socks, thermal vest and jacket - I am sure they will survive. When I was at school, we used to go for runs in the middle of winter in freezing conditions - felt just great when we got back to school (where we always had windows open).

I regularly opened the windows in my classrooms as they get disgustingly dank, humid and sweaty. Eww de teenager is grim at the best of times.

I always got surprisingly few colds and never had flu. Most school years I did not need an episode of sick pay. Open windows is likely to be a contributing factor.

Good idea

@ceeveebee

I’m a believer in the phrase “There is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes.” Just wear more layers. How many children love to play in the snow or go skiing?

Colds are not caused by being cold...

DS loves sledging... in his shorts still!