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Original poster

Year 2 child asked to change in school for P.E

54 replies

Samanthajamesjones · 26/08/2025 23:31

So my child is going into Year 2 and we've been told to send in a P.E kit to leave in school for him to change in and out of when they have P.E. Its a mixed gender school. Would this be considered normal? My nephews at a different school and they wear a P.E kit into school on days they do P.E.

Just find the idea of my child changing in their underwear in a classroom of other boys and girls a bit strange. Id much rather he wore it in so he isn't getting changed plus I can wash it at home too.

Anyone experience this?

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Tiswa · 27/08/2025 09:43

ThejoyofNC · 27/08/2025 08:44

I'd refuse to allow this for my child. They cannot force you.

Simply tell them that you'll either send your child in PE kit or that they'll need to be taken to a separate area to change.

You'll get a load of people telling you they did PE in their knickers in the 70s and it's fine, but that's up to them. That was more than 50 years ago, times change.

From everyone or single gender because they will do that. DD and her friend were talking about the area they went to the other day in year 6 (they were year 6 Covid)

it is a good thing DS actually found changing for PE last year in year 7 stressful because he hadn’t done it since year 1.

the school will follow safeguarding advice

SisterMargaretta · 27/08/2025 09:48

It was completely normal up until Covid. As a KS1 teacher I much prefer the kids coming in with their PE kits on as so much of the lesson time used to be spent getting changed and locating all the bits of clothing that had got lost, realising that Freddie had put on Johnny's trousers etc. Smaller schools like mine often don't have changing rooms either so it could be difficult for the upper primary DC to get changed as puberty is hitting earlier and earlier.

user2848502016 · 27/08/2025 09:57

Completely normal.
My DD is going in to year 6 next week and that’s what she’s been doing since year 3.
The girls go to the toilets to change and boys stay in the classroom so they get some privacy

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HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 27/08/2025 10:06

ThejoyofNC · 27/08/2025 08:44

I'd refuse to allow this for my child. They cannot force you.

Simply tell them that you'll either send your child in PE kit or that they'll need to be taken to a separate area to change.

You'll get a load of people telling you they did PE in their knickers in the 70s and it's fine, but that's up to them. That was more than 50 years ago, times change.

What exactly do you think is happening?

EmpressaurusKitty · 27/08/2025 10:10

When I was at primary school in the 80s we had to change in the same classroom as the boys all the way through & I hated it.

I don’t see why mixed sex changing is a major issue for under-8s though. And hopefully most if not all schools will now be segregating toilets & changing rooms by sex, not gender.

Whaleadthesnail · 27/08/2025 11:20

DD starts reception next week and will be doing this....it's normal

SpiritedFlame · 27/08/2025 17:53

In my child's school they change for PE from reception.

It does seem to vary though. In a different school, they just wore their PE kit on the day however this was post COVID. Prior to that it was also that they changed.

WonderfulSmith · 27/08/2025 17:59

Perfectly normal before Covid. Then teacher, well SLT as teachers already knew, realised that not having to faff about getting changed saved so much time and effort. Trying to get a room full of 5 year old changed took hours. Some could do it themselves and were bored while others stood there with their arms in the air expecting you to do it for them.

FlorenceAgainstTheMachine · 27/08/2025 18:05

Did you post about this the other day, OP? The OP on that thread was similarly told it’s perfectly normal practice.

Trinity69 · 27/08/2025 18:09

When I was at Primary School (a million years ago) we all got changed in the classroom as a mixed group until year 6 when we were split. Seemed normal at the time but not sure I’d be keen on mine doing it.

tripleginandtonic · 27/08/2025 18:13

Omg, totally normal

tripleginandtonic · 27/08/2025 18:15

Its also important front a safeguarding pov. Teachers can see bruises on torsos and legs.

sittingonabeach · 27/08/2025 18:31

Totally normal. In DS’s Primary school it was only in Y6 they did separate changing for boys and girls. They didn’t have room to separate them before that.

Not sure if they adopted the post COVID option of coming in dressed in PE kit.

Some local village schools are so small they don’t have school halls so have to use village halls. So pre COVID they not only had the joy of waiting whilst reception kids faffed about getting changed but then had to walk them to the village hall and back! The actual amount of PE done was very small!

incognitomummy · 27/08/2025 18:34

This was totally normal pre Covid

Princesspollyyy · 27/08/2025 18:37

Completely normal. Our primary used to wear PE kits in to school on PE days, then they changed it and said pupils needed to experience getting changed themselves. 🤷🏻‍♀️

TeenToTwenties · 27/08/2025 18:51

Normal pre covid. Only separate for changing from approx y4.
(Can also be lightweight safeguarding as teachers can spot bruises on upper arms or wherever.)

herbalteabag · 27/08/2025 18:55

Yes, it's very normal. I work in schools and this would be the procedure if they didn't come to school wearing PE kit at that age. However, it's true that more schools wear PE kit to school and wear it all day now, than have to change into it whilst there.

londongirl12 · 27/08/2025 19:04

Did you never do this as a kid? My DS is starting year 3 and they have to do this. It’s normal.

viques · 27/08/2025 19:04

titchy · 27/08/2025 08:09

Perfectly normal. At least they no longer make kids do PE in vest and knickers like in my day!

I was going to say this! Made getting changed a lot quicker though. I am pretty sure the change came when a lot of primary schools introduced school uniform and the uniform suppliers realised they could squeeze a few more quid out of parents by supplying pe kit in school colours. Kerching!

H0210zero · 27/08/2025 20:38

Samanthajamesjones · 26/08/2025 23:31

So my child is going into Year 2 and we've been told to send in a P.E kit to leave in school for him to change in and out of when they have P.E. Its a mixed gender school. Would this be considered normal? My nephews at a different school and they wear a P.E kit into school on days they do P.E.

Just find the idea of my child changing in their underwear in a classroom of other boys and girls a bit strange. Id much rather he wore it in so he isn't getting changed plus I can wash it at home too.

Anyone experience this?

Perfectly normal most schools do it. They won't be changing together it will be bits in one room girls in another. Then the kit will come home at term time. I wouldn't like the idea of my kid going. To school with his PE kit sitting through other lessons after a OE session sweating and possibly muddy if playing outdoor games. It's 100% normal

CheeseWisely · 27/08/2025 20:46

Glad to hear schools are moving back to pre-covid. A friend’s lad was in year 6 when they started having to go in for PE in their kit, PE first thing and then sat in the same kit for the rest of the day. Some of the boys who were starting puberty stank by the end of the day in summer, poor kids.

Macaroni46 · 27/08/2025 20:55

H0210zero · 27/08/2025 20:38

Perfectly normal most schools do it. They won't be changing together it will be bits in one room girls in another. Then the kit will come home at term time. I wouldn't like the idea of my kid going. To school with his PE kit sitting through other lessons after a OE session sweating and possibly muddy if playing outdoor games. It's 100% normal

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Highly unlikely they’ll separate the boys and girls for changing in Year 2. Usually not until Year 4 or 5.

Julimia · 28/08/2025 10:15

Its really quite normal and no big deal but unfortunately since covid we are being conditioned into thinking that it is rather odd practice...it isn't.

lilkitten · 28/08/2025 10:48

My kids were in Y4 and Y1 when covid happened. Prior to that they changed in class, and since then their primary school asked them to just come in in their kit for the day. When I was at primary everyone changed in the classroom at your desk, it was only at secondary that we had separate changing areas. I wish my kids secondary would let them just wear PE kit for the day though - they don't have lockers but have to lug bags around all day

Bitzee · 28/08/2025 11:06

Normal here from Y3. They send the kit home weekly though. Every HT is a bit grim especially if they’re doing sports like rugby that can result in getting muddy. From Y5 they do wear the PE kit in if sports are first thing but bring their uniform to change into afterwards as it’s expected they may get sweaty and it’ll need a wash after each use.