So cold at school

[TW2013]

My dc are really cold at school. I know why all the windows, doors etc are open and I tend to just layer up at home so not averse to layers. They go in with five layers on top, wondering about digging their salopettes out for legs. They have been told they can't have hood up. Due to a medical condition they do get colder than normal. Have ordered fingerless gloves. Anyone else found any solutions?

They should be allowed coats; we have ours take them off in the corridors where it tends to be warmer and they are walking about but sitting still in the classroom means they came ear coats; we are bloody wearing them!

We are wearing base layers, fingerless gloves and I've currently got merino wool tights on under trousers and a proper pair of bed socks over normal socks. It is really cold in schools right now but sadly one of the few things we can do to be 'safe'.

Completely ridiculous that all windows and doors are open in this weather and it’s only going to get colder. Poor children! Schools still need to be a safe learning environment and it isn’t very safe freezing them all day. Schools should be closed if they can’t open without this happening.

I'm extremely pissed off that school won't let them wear any outer wear in class - not even hats or fingerless gloves, let alone hoodies or coats.
I've just ordered DD some thermal vests. She normally hates trousers and tights so is still in short socks and a skirt. I've told her if she mentions the cold again I'll be ordering school trousers and thick tights.

Short socks and a skirt is not very sensible!

Dd has a fleecy blanket thst she puts in her rucksack then tucks round her in lessons!

Ds has sweatshirt and joggers under his trousers and t-shirt and then follows with the rest of his uniform, dd has leggings and plain long sleeve top, her t-shirt and then 2 cardigans. All have a pair of fluffy socks and then regular socks on. Ours are allowed to wear coats in the classroom, our school is going with the approach of ‘do what you need to do’ rather than restricting anything which I’m grateful for. I have wondered whether we should pull them out, it hasn’t snowed where we are, although it feels like it is cold enough to. I feel like that’s a good point to pull them out - when it’s snowing and they’re still sitting with doors and windows open.
I’d rather they closed the doors and windows and just took a chance with it, the entire class has to isolate if there’s a confirmed case anyway.

Moon boots.

We have thermal undies, ski underlayers from Aldi and proper cold weather coats.

Our primary has been really good and flexed the uniform.

Extra plain dark jumpers or hoodies, body warmers can be worn in class (but not coats) along with fingerless gloves,

They are not normally allowed to wear boots but these are ok too.

What about a couple of the little USB charged handwarmers?

I would be tempted to email in that she is too cold to learn in school and will be learning at hoiome unless they change the rules on hats and gloves and coats etc.

poor things.

Our school head has sent out 2 letters saying they have relaxed their rules around wearing coats in class and its now at the teachers discretion. Which is annoying as some teachers still say no coats are to be worn in the classroom. I wonder if for some its a bit of a power trip.

Haven't read the whole thread so might have already been suggested, but you can get battery powered heated gilets. I used to have one for my motor bike and it was great

This is bloody ridiculous. I don't have school age children yet, but how can anyone concentrate and actually learn if they're that cold? I struggled with the cold in winter when I was in school in normal times (old Victorian building) - I remember whole days when I couldn't feel my feet

Teacher here, it’s been very cold in school. I can barely concentrate, let alone the poor kids. I feel constantly ill and during the week, it can take hours in the evening to warm up, I’ve even bought an electric blanket to make sure I can sleep at night as my hands and feet are still like blocks of ice.
Some schools are incredibly miserable places to be at the moment and I long for the day we can all just get back to normal.

The trick is wool clothing. So wool base layer (thighs and long sleeved top, something like this www.amazon.co.uk/Mountain-Warehouse-Thermal-Baselayer-Trousers/dp/B07MGDXGM9/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&smid=A3W3NOJVUUSUGG&psc=1&keywords=merino+thermal+children&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFITTM5NUdCR1NLTTcmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2ODIzNTlBMEY2SU1FWk5INVAmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDI0MTc3MzNIRFVSOUZTQkJVT0omd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1607534253&sr=8-2-spons ) and then a thick wool sweater on top. They should be allowed wool hats and scarves as well.

Ridiculous that they have to wear uniform, they should just be able to wear whatever it takes to keep warm. It must be so miserable. I can’t imagine government offices making their staff be so cold while working?

@AcornAutumn

“I understand why the schools are doing this, but it’s awful watching my DD cry before school because she is going to be so cold.“

I don’t understand why parents aren’t protesting about it.

You do realise schools aren't doing this for fun dont you??

School staff hate it too. It's miserable for everyone but sadly it's one of the only things we can do for ventilation. I'm lucky at my school as we have radiators and also air con that blows hot or cold air. A warm blast every hour or so makes a massive difference.

I would ask the school if it's possible to relax the uniform policy and make sure your children aren't always sitting by the window.

I sympathise with your kids, I’ve got bloody chilblains this week and have had to start wearing boots and two layers of socks. I’ve taught in my coat all week. Some kids are wearing hoodies underneath their coats and to the PP who said their children aren’t being allowed coats you should definitely challenge this - our head is super strict about uniform usually and we are absolutely allowed to let kids wear coats at the moment. They should take gloves in too. It’s just so crazy at the moment, and we’re all so miserable being cold!

Just came on to second the Primark fleece lined leggings for £6. I buy the small adult ones and you can fold them over or cut them down. We got them for Lapland and they are much more effective than thermals. Underneath their tops we use Uniqlo Heatech, you need the extra warm if your child feels the cold. They are wickable so shouldn't get cold and sweaty unlike cotton. Sorry to hear of so many little ones suffering with the cold and hope these tips help.

@Racoonworld

Completely ridiculous that all windows and doors are open in this weather and it’s only going to get colder. Poor children! Schools still need to be a safe learning environment and it isn’t very safe freezing them all day. Schools should be closed if they can’t open without this happening.

It's a difficult balancing act:

• poor ventilation, added to the usual lack of social distancing and being all together in a small space for lengthy periods = high Covid risk.

• good ventilation = cold

If schools are sensible about alternative clothing, then there are ways of managing being cold, while there are vanishingly few other ways of substantially decreasing the Covid risk....

Urgh it really is awful :( I'm a teacher and really struggling with this. We have lifted the no coat policy to allow coats in classes.

I haven't found a great solution yet but watching in hope of some ideas :)

Chillblains or covid toe?

Overhesting your feet or too quickly after being cold can cause chillblains

@AcornAutumn

“I understand why the schools are doing this, but it’s awful watching my DD cry before school because she is going to be so cold.“

I don’t understand why parents aren’t protesting about it.

Protest what? Most parents want the schools to stay open

No one should be telling them to take coats off at the minute.