School uniform: how do you ensure children are dressed warmly enough in this freezing weather?

[BonsoirAnna]

Just curious, really. Our school has a dress code rather than a uniform, so it is flexible enough to adapt to the seasons/temperature. I've always been a bit that two outfits per year (summer/winter) will be appropriate for all weathers. I remember literally freezing in primary school.

Our school has central heating.

more places let girls wear trousers now, which helps a lot

and never be afraid to put vests underneath (long sleeved if necc)

but tbh most schools are warm indoors, so if they have a decent coat / hat / mittens for outside they should be ok

Vests and extra layers! The girls are allowed to wear trousers which helps. But they could always wear two jumpers, or cardigan and sweatshirt over etc. The school in general is quite warm but the corridors are very draughty etc!

Yes, no trousers in my day - a pleated skirt to just on the knee, thin knee socks and thin-soled Start-Rites were the maximum coverage allowed.

I'm not worried about inside school - of course they have central heating - but the journey to and from school and all the break times.

layers, so a vest and maybe a jumper on top of th mormal uniform then a warm jacket, scarff, gloves, hat, should be enough

well my girls have gone to school today in

vest, polo-shirt, school fleeces, skirts, thick tights, ankle boots, anorak style coat, gloves, earwarmers......am sure they'll be plenty warm as they tend to run like loons in the playground

i do always ensure they have a very warm coat though and tend to buy the longet style coat that covers them more

long coats and woolly tights
socks over tights if you worry re cold feet

long socks under trousers good too

then you find they come out of school in just their polo shirt carrying hats/coats atc

Its the walk to school that has me a bit puzzled. Tomorrow morning if it follow the pattern of yesterday (which it looks like it may do) means the walk will be at -8C. Whilst dd can put tights on under her trousers it means that in school she will completely bake. The heating in her school is ferocious.

Outdoor clothes not a problem, she has warm hat, scarf, gloves, proper coat etc. Today she wore her walking boots as it was snowy and pretty icy.

Of course when they get to secondary school then they just all freeze to death.

OYBBK -- could she put overtrousers on top of her trousers to walk to school, rather than tights on underneath?

Thats a good idea she does have a pair of waterproof trousers. thanks

No trousers allowed at dd's school but the weather is never a problem. On warmer days she wears socks and leaves her jumper off. On cold days she wears tights and the school jumper. On very cold days she could wear her blazer and her school fleece. There is also a school scarf, hat and gloves as part of the uniform.

Well our walk to school today will be at the heady heights of -8C. (what a good guess last night!) I don't think enough layers in the world will stop our toes falling off!

I take that back - temps arent rising yet. -8.5C
cor blimey!

I agree that schools are baking hot. Far too hot, IMO - no wonder kids are always getting ill. When I go to help out in the dcs' school I always regret not wearing a bikini. I can't understand the waste of energy. The windows and doors are always flung open - even in this weather - because it is so hot and stuffy.

What I did for the walk to school yesterday, was let dd2 wear her 'ugg' style sheepskin boots. Then when she got there she swapped them for her usual school shoes. Her feet were toasty warm and dry all the way. We did the reverse coming home, which was just as well, since it was like Siberia here yesterday.

I was a bad mother this morning and put DD in her normal school shoes! We drive to school but have to walk a little way from where we park to school. Poor DD, her toes were sooooo cold when we got there (temp of -8!) I have promised her I will bring her wellies and wellie socks to school this afternoon

I did that this morning Pesto. dd walked into school in her fur lined boots. With grass minima of -13C its like walking on freezer blocks.

DD has the two uniform scenario.

There is an overlap of half term in May and Sep/Oct hwen either can be worn.

The winter uniform really is warm enough: shirt, tie, pinafore, cardigan, tights and shoes. They have a proper winter coat and hat too, plus can wear uniform coloured scarfs and gloves. There is also an optional waterproof coat that can fit over the winter coat. And obviously you can out vests, etc on under the uniform. DD is never cold for school.

TBH I persnally choose to wear skirts and tights int his cold weather. I find it warmer than trousers and socks.

The school I have just started working at is freezing! My finger tips are so cold after the morning ends.

DD's school is chilly on a Monday but really hot by mid week depending on what classroom you are in.

Why do some schools not allow girls to wear trousers? It's 2008 fgs!

Ha ha just realised it's actually 2009! oh dear

Bluejelly - because girls really don't look very nice in polyester school trousers, whatever year it may be!!

I like woollen pinafores, myself.

My DS is still wearing shorts for school. His knees are blue, but he swears he isn't cold. DD won't wear tights with her lovely woollen pinafore. They have optional school hats, scarves, gloves - you name it, it's on the uniform list. However, I have come to the conclusion that they are hardy northern children and there is not much to be done about their inability to feel the cold!

I personally love my thermal leggings on the walk to school.