Primary 5 boys & girls have to change for gym together??

[Yogagirl17]

DD (10) just been telling me that her teacher makes them all get changed for gym together in the classroom and also that her male teacher stays in the room while they change. Now I just want to say straight out I like and trust this teach and absolutely do not suspect him of anything untoward, other than possibly being a little naive.

Anyway, DD says she is beginning to feel uncomfortable with this and doesn't understand why the boys (and the teacher) can't go to another room while they change. I can't say I blame her and frankly I'm a little surprised this is even happening - surely 10 is old enough that they should be given privacy? I definitely want to say something to the school but trying to gauge how strongly to react. I mean, should I just ask the head teacher if they can change teh current arrangement or do I make a bigger deal of it?

Whoops! Poor grammar, but you know what I mean!

Go to Ikea and buy the longest curtain pole they have. Get it fixed to ceiling of classroom at suitable point. Attach dark curtain. Close curtain when changing for PE, girls on one side, boys on other, at all other times can be tied back against wall, not taking up too much space in already crowded classroom. Wouldn't cost that much, doesn't need extra space, one teacher can still supervise.

CDV,

I should probably clarify - I have no children with full statements at the moment (though one will obtain a statement soon). The 9 are all on the school SEN register, at School Action and School Action + . Unless you have inside knowledge of your children's school, it is quite possible that your children do have SA and SA+ children in their class without you knowing it.

CDV - are your children at a selective school? It is highly unlikely that a state school would have no SEN children in the class - as the average is between 20 - 30%.

jo164.

That's not a bad idea, though my options for where to draw the curtain back to are a) over the interactive whiteboard, b) and c) over one or other set of windows (1970s extension to victorian school) or d) over a slightly complex shelves / cupboards / major display board point ... but certainly an idea for partitioning off a small area a little better than my tall bookshelves. Thanks.

Unless your ceilings and walls contain asbestos jo

Well done jo164 - a helpful idea.
If you do this folks, don't forget you'll have to spray it with fire retardant spray and have it checked by the health & safety people.
But, at last a positive suggestion that might work in some classrooms.

Ah, yes, there is that..... one of those things i haven't found out yet!

Glad to be of some help - everyone else too busy arguing to actually think of a solution! I am also a teacher and know this could work in some classrooms I have taught in.

We discovered we had asbestos when they put in the computer suite

Too true Jo, sorry folks

It would work in our Y6 class which is new build with a low ceiling but it has the walk in cupboard

Unfortunately it wouldn't work in my school as the ceiling shapes are odd and it would be only be possible to attach at one end, leaving the other hanging in mid-air.
But keep on with the suggestions please folks, one might work for us.

Abigail, You'd only need to attach one end to a wall though - could just draw part way across a room. Attach other end to ceiling ( rubbish at DIY but I'm sure it could be done!!) Or am I misunderstanding and are ceilings not flat?

Mine too - two sloping roofs, and a higher one in the middle about 8m high.

Dd is in yr five. Currently goes to a very small primary, girls get changed unsupervised in toilets with no problem. In sept she's changing schools and have been told that all kids get changed together. She's not impressed. I'm trying to downplay it, have said ill buy her some crop tops and then its no different than been in a cossie which she,d be fine with. She seems a bit happier so will see how it goes. I wouldn't have liked it though.

No we've got a silly multi arched roof.

I have an image of something a bit similar to the role play area created in our youngest classroom, which has a curtain / awning / tent / whatever is needed suspended from a couple of poles to surround an area of the classroom. I couldn't divide my room in half with a curtain because of the layout of the room, but could create a more secluded area for some, which would also be useful for 1 to 1 work, reading etc.

teacherwith2kids - I've now got visions of the pop up gazebo outside my classroom window that I had to use for small group work at my last school because we didn't have space to do any intervention groups anywhere else! Trying to see how it would work for changing, but it doesn't prevent children's sightlines, but maintain mine for safety/behaaviour management!

You could give them all blindfolds. Like those sleep masks you get on long-distance flights.

We do have an outdoor classroom [eureka!]

Now the creative juices are starting to flow! Hope you come up with solutions that work for you.

Now that's given me a good giggle for the first time today!

You don't need a curtain pole or to have it permanently fixed. An old sheet, a washing line and two hooks in the wall would do. Take down and keep in cupboard when not in use.

We used to have mice running in the suspended ceilings in my old school... viler than vile.