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Original poster

School open today but banned kids playing in the snow.

37 replies

ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:02

They will have no playtimes or lunchtime outside. I feel so sorry for my 5 yr old as I only persuaded him in with the idea that he could play with his friends in the snow. (all the other schools near heres are closed) I wish I had kept him in. Its only once every 10 years or so where I live.

I complained but they quoted the health and safety line. My husband teachers at a school in the same borough but they let their kids play.

OP posts:
Hotcrossbunny · 03/02/2009 10:05

Honestly how miserable. Could you pick him up at lunchtime for an hour? Don't know if that's possible, but it seems so mean...

psychomum5 · 03/02/2009 10:05

the school mine go to did the same yesterday, so I made the decision that if there was snow today they would be at home maming memories

luckily, all schools are closed by me today, including my childrens school!!!

prettybird · 03/02/2009 10:08

Our school had "wet paytime" yesterday - ie they were kept inside. There was apparently "not enough snow".

Actually - that was fair enough, as what snow we had was wet and sticky (in Glasgow), so the kids would just have got cold and miserable.

The teachers were apparently really disappointed - they hate wet playtimes!

Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:09

When I realised they were doing this I dithered about just bolting with him.

He did have a lovely day sledging yesterday.

I was so furious as were had a nightmare journey there. They had closed the nearest entrance to me but failed to say so on their answerphone message (which didn't say it was opening till abut 7.45!). So I had to walk/carry/drag my relunctant v heavy toddler 4 times as far as I was banking on. Am not sure I could do that journey twice more!

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Hulababy · 03/02/2009 10:13

School I work at, and DD's school, both allowed the children out to play in the snow. Only rule at my school was that no snowballs to be thrown at each other, only at the wall, etc.

SoMuchToBits · 03/02/2009 10:16

We had snow yesterday (only 2 or 3 inches) and the school was open. The children spent most of the day playing outside. The headteacher's view was that snow is such a rare event here in Suffolk that he would rather they all go out and play in it when we have it. They were even allowed to throw snowballs (but only in designated areas, so people couls avoid them if they wanted to).

The snow has all disapeared today, so ds is really pleased they could all enjoy it yesterday.

ThePellyandMe · 03/02/2009 10:19

My dc's school was open yesterday and I think they spent most of the day playing in the snow judging by the various snowmen about. Only about half went in so I don't think they did much proper work.

Lubyloo · 03/02/2009 10:20

Health and safety gone mad - what killjoys! It's a bit of a shame if you can't throw snowballs and play in the snow.

When I wass at school we always used to make big skid runs on the ice in the playground and have great fun, taking a run up and skidding to the end!

Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:21

When I went to complain they said that no other schools were letting kids play in the snow. What a joke

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SoMuchToBits · 03/02/2009 10:22

I'm soooo glad we have the headteacher we have. He is just so sensible about things, and really believes in the kids having fun, as well as working.

drivinmecrazy · 03/02/2009 10:22

Totally the same here. DDs school the only one open in the town we live in. had to risk life and limb getting her there on foot, because couldn't get car out of our close onto main road and paths were completely covered in ice. caretaker told us kids will be kept in all day because there is snow on the ground. What has really f**d me off is that only about 8 out of 25 in her class have turned up.
I almost kept her at home but thought I would be the only one
Cannot bear the thought she is stuck in a class room looking out at all that lovely snow.
Surely the local schools should have a united policy, if some shut they all shut.

Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:25

I know its making me so upset thinking I sent him there. I left him with all the yr 1 and 2s watching a video on interactive whiteboard. Am so hacked off with myself. Bumped into his teacher coming in at about 9.20!

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Reallytired · 03/02/2009 10:25

I think its fairly common for children to be kept indoors when it is snowy. Certainly its the case at my son's school and the school where I work.

drivinmecrazy · 03/02/2009 10:27

I also have a very grumpy 3 yo who is hacked off her sister went back to school today while her nursery is closed, can't understand why she can't go

posieflump · 03/02/2009 10:27

they can play in the snow tonight though can't they?!!

Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:28

How awful and ridiculous. Maybe if its for weeks each year but once every 10 years. Its so sad that they can't experience that really special time with snow with all their friends.

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Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:29

If its still here, its very sunny now and melting quite fast.

God I feel sorry for the teachers too. Inside for so many playtimes when its sunny. The odd thing is that they let them out in light rain for play.

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cupofteaplease · 03/02/2009 10:37

Hmm, the school I'm currently teaching at didn't allow children out in the snow at morning or lunchtime play yesterday. Reason being, if they get all wet in the snow, which they would, they then have to come inside and sit in soggy clothes for the rest of the day- not very comfortable!

We all went outside in the afternoon for an extended playtime and children could get as wet as they wanted as they were going straight home to get changed in the warm.

It's nothing to do with health and safety gone mad etc- it's more about common sense! Trust me, it was NOT fun having a class full of hyper childen who would rather have been at home or outside. I would rather have been at home too- sledging with my own children! But I made the journey. I can assure you- no teacher likes wet playtime- rain, sleet or snow!

drivinmecrazy · 03/02/2009 10:37

Same here with the sun, am willing the snow to stay firm until 3.20. Such a shame no body uses common sense any more. have to walk into town to do some shopping soon, am not looking forward to seeing all the other kids of the town out enjoying the snow. only plus side is care taker says we should have more snow tonight and possibly heavy snow on Friday, so he said the school wanted to open today in case they have to shut later in the week.
DD is going to be in such a foul mood when I pick her up. Don't feel i can let little one out to play in it because it really won't be a pretty site when she taunts her sister after school

Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:42

well actually it was health and safety as that I what the acting head quoted to me. Common sense would say let them be a bit damp once every 10 years. It won't kill them. My husbands said heh kids were a bit damp yesterday but nothing really bad or too uncomfortable!

I am a teacher and know about wet plays and so its even more stupid to keep them in and I would have let them out no problem. They are let out in light rain.

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francagoestohollywood · 03/02/2009 10:51

Here in Milan it snowed heavily a month ago, just after the holidays. I was shocked that the children weren't allowed out to play. More "sensible" parents pointed out that the children would have got wet and cold after that and how could the teachers possibly deal with classes of 21 wet children.
I thought it was a bit precious (and so typically Italian to worry about the possibility of getting cold ). Though I do sympathize with the teachers

Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 10:59

We walk to the school in the rain and cold. As a teacher I would have dealt with it by getting them to take their coats off and possibly their shoes.

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cupofteaplease · 03/02/2009 11:03

Well all the teaching staff agreed together what would happen in our school yesterday.

The children had a great time in the afternoon in the snow. None of them complained about not being out in it at morning or lunch play. Just as they wouldn't moan about not being allowed to play in the rain either.

It was hard to keep their attention, granted, but we delivered the same lesssons as normal. It's only snow, after all!

Original poster
ihatemyjob · 03/02/2009 11:10

yes but when you are 5 and have never played in it before its pretty bloody magical. Next time he'll probably be a teenager and it will be fun but not the same.

Gosh the kids I taught always moaned about wet play. Lucky you! My sons school lets them out in light rain. There were 4 classes in one class when I left so I doubt the lessons will be anywhere near normal.

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cupofteaplease · 03/02/2009 11:15

It does sound like your son's school was much more disrupted by the snow. We are a village school, so the vasy majority walk to school so we had a full house!

I think we are due more later this week- keep him off school that day