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Original poster

Will heating be allowed in schools this year.

128 replies

Kales29 · 04/09/2021 21:09

Do you think? Obviously I can find this out once they go back in a few days.

But last year my kids schools and other schools didn't have the heating on and windows/doors open for ventilation. Which I totally get there's a reason for!

Poor Dd really suffered. She feels the cold. She has joint issues and the cold doesn't help. This is specified in her EHCP which she has for other reasons too.

Despite this they sat her right by the door/window (literally right by it, couldn't get any closer to the cold!). She would wear 3 layers, tights etc but she'd still be cold and stiff after school. I had to suggest her being moved but I felt guilty as another child would have to swap with her and they would then feel the cold then!

It was so hard!

Hopefully it won't be too cold for a couple months at least!

Still very warm where I live atm.

OP posts:
CarrieBlue · 06/09/2021 08:04

@Peteycat

12:28CarrieBlue

I just wish the schools would speak up a bit more and challenge these things.

Oh please, are you for real?

What's your problem with my comment?

Teachers, teaching unions, ‘schools’ have been telling everyone how bad funding for schools is for a very very long time. Unions ‘challenge’ it, makes no difference because still the electorate go for the incompetent bunch we have now who really really don’t care about state education. Maybe we wish voters would take notice? And then you wish the schools would speak up a bit more and challenge these things? That’s my problem with your comment.
Augusta1 · 06/09/2021 08:09

We had the heating on in our school last year.

Frazzled2207 · 06/09/2021 08:10

@DrMadelineMaxwell

Our school was heated last year. Windows open meant it didn't stay warm but the radiators were still all on.
So did ours Environmentally this is bonkers and not really sustainable but probably what is going to happen this winter
onelittlefrog · 06/09/2021 08:16

I'd be surprised if schools do this again this year.

But if I were you I'd just make sure that her EHCP is highlighted from the beginning to try and pre-empt any issues.

cls123 · 06/09/2021 10:14

there's a legal minuimum temperature for schools of 18 degrees in the classroom...though i think like a lot of things COVID has trumped any other requirement. I'd put it in writing to the school that your child suffered health consequences that impacted on her learning last year and ask how they will mitigate it this year. They'd be better just opening up windows and doors for 15 mins or so every change of lesson so there's a blast of fresh air going through the room .

CoffeeWithCheese · 06/09/2021 10:24

Last year mine went in with thermal long sleeve tops under their school shirts and I also bought a fleece in the school colours to put on top as well. Loads were still taking blankets in every day to sit under as well.

Oh yeah and fingerless gloves - I sent them in with those but not sure how much they wore them.

DD1 was triumphant as she'd got the seat near the radiator anyway!

Bobholll · 06/09/2021 10:36

Our school have said they are doing things a little differently this year. Windows will be open in lessons but not any doors and all windows will be closed during break, lunch & any time the kids are not in the classroom to allow the rooms time to warm back up, particularly in winter.

Seems reasonable to me. Last year was ridiculous. We live in the rural north, it’s freezing here. The classrooms often fell below the legally required temperature. Can’t say I was very happy with it as a parent but there we go. I’m glad they are taking a better approach this year!

Peteycat · 06/09/2021 11:00

Put it this way. If I had 30 kids freezing in a classroom,no one would stop me turning on the heating and keeping them warm. So, you can make this as political as you like, but believe me, I would do what I thought was right.

CarrieBlue · 06/09/2021 11:10

@cls123

there's a legal minuimum temperature for schools of 18 degrees in the classroom...though i think like a lot of things COVID has trumped any other requirement. I'd put it in writing to the school that your child suffered health consequences that impacted on her learning last year and ask how they will mitigate it this year. They'd be better just opening up windows and doors for 15 mins or so every change of lesson so there's a blast of fresh air going through the room .
There is no legal minimum temperature for classrooms. There is guidance for workplaces but no law.

www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures

Peteycat · 06/09/2021 16:16

I think we can all assume no caring person would leave children cold all day.

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2021 16:28

Oooh Petey I'm sure that teachers were teaching in freezing cold classrooms, themselves in coats and thermals along with the class because they didn't care about the kids. Hmm

MrsHamlet · 06/09/2021 16:36

@Peteycat

Put it this way. If I had 30 kids freezing in a classroom,no one would stop me turning on the heating and keeping them warm. So, you can make this as political as you like, but believe me, I would do what I thought was right.
In my school, the heating is on or off. There is no facility to control it in individual rooms.
noblegiraffe · 06/09/2021 16:44

Why were you not abandoning your class to break into the boiler room, MrsH? Do you just not care about the kids?

CarrieBlue · 06/09/2021 16:46

The classrooms often fell below the legally required temperature.

There isn’t one.

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2021 16:46

People really don't understand the state of schools, do they?

MrsHamlet · 06/09/2021 16:50

@noblegiraffe

Why were you not abandoning your class to break into the boiler room, MrsH? Do you just not care about the kids?
CBA. Too busy plotting the closure of schools.
Peteycat · 06/09/2021 16:55

No maybe I don't understand. Maybe you should tell us then. If it's that bad make noise. I'm not here for yet another row, I'm just puzzled as to why the heating would not be turned on.

MrsHamlet · 06/09/2021 16:56

Because heating the sky when you have to have all doors and windows open is expensive. And schools are struggling for money.

Peteycat · 06/09/2021 16:57

I never said they didn't care. Again people twisting words. Why are you all so rude? All I'm saying is that if most parents knew their kids were going to be cold all day, they would maybe cause a fuss until it was resolved. It's alright saying no it wasn't on etc, so if that's the case then let's do something about it.

mumsneedwine · 06/09/2021 16:57

It was 32 degrees in my classroom today. Windows open half an inch (they don't open more). Upstairs, no outside door. Smelt delightful by the end of the day.
It will be freezing in a few months.
Some schools are falling apart, have been for years.

MrsHamlet · 06/09/2021 16:58

Do what? Pay the school energy bill?

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2021 16:59

I don't know why the heating wasn't turned on in the school in question, perhaps it was because it blew air around the room which was covid risk assessed and not allowed (my school didn't allow fans in the summer for the same reason in boiling hot classrooms).

However teachers have very little control over the condition of their classrooms so your automatic assumption that the heating was off because the teacher didn't care enough about the kids is just insulting.

If it's that bad make noise.

I've been 'making a noise' about it for years on here.

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2021 17:00

You said I think we can all assume no caring person would leave children cold all day.

And yet children (and teachers) were cold all day, therefore logically it's because people didn't care, according to you.

Peteycat · 06/09/2021 17:08

16:58MrsHamlet

Do what? Pay the school energy bill?

Oh yes, love the defeatest attitude.

If you get insulted by that, then my goodness. I am a person who likes solutions to problems. No point moaning if you aren't willing to cause a fuss. Everyone I know wouldn't stand for a cold classroom. I'm sorry but if your willing to accept it, that's up to you. I will not.

As for the smart ass comment about paying the bill, no obviously not. However, the reason the heating was off last year wasn't anything remotely to do with cost. It was due to apparently covid spreading.

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2021 17:09

Everyone I know wouldn't stand for a cold classroom

So what would they do? All these people who wouldn't stand for it?