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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Should the school pay some sort of compensation?

54 replies

Ramona76 · 03/12/2011 11:37

My 4 year old DD and 2 of her friends came home from Reception class last week with gloss paint over their coats,and in their hair,from a recently painted fence in the playground.The coats,needless to say were ruined,and although the teacher apologised,there was no further communication about it.A parent went in to see the Head,who had been off that day,to discuss what had happened and possible compensation for the coats and was told to write to the governors.When asked if they had been supervised,she was told of course,but 2 girls had managed to move the (half full)grit bin and wet paint signs,so basically it was their fault,I just wonder if anyone can shed any light regarding the Health and Safety of glossing a fence in school time,and ultimately who is responsible?

OP posts:

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pooka · 03/12/2011 11:41

I don't see what health and safety has to do with it?

Were the girls who moved the grit bin and signs the same ones who got paint on their coats?

Gloss paint on coats doesn't necessarily mean they are ruined - have you tried googling to see if there are any paint removal tips on there? I've managed to get gloss paint out of jeans before.

IndigoBell · 03/12/2011 11:52

The coats aren't ruined. They can still be worn. They'll still keep the rain and cold out.

They just don't look so nice.

I would not expect school to pay. I'd rather they spent their limited budget on other things.

Original poster

Ramona76 · 03/12/2011 11:53

Yes,it was the same girls who moved the grit bin and signs,though tbh,how they managed to move a half full grit bin without drawing the attention of the people who were supervising im not sure!
I did google removing gloss from fabric,but white spirit seemed to be the only answer,and though i did manage to make my daughters half decent again,the others weren't able to remove it due to the delicate nature and colour of the fabric.

OP posts:

DownbytheRiverside · 03/12/2011 11:54

I think the priority should be to ask what extra supervision needs to be in place if work is being done within school to safeguard non-literate and non-rule keeping four year olds. They were in an area they shouldn't have been, fiddling with inappropriate materials.
Rather than fussing about paint on a school coat. It will still keep them warm and dry, which is the purpose of a coat.

LingDiLong · 03/12/2011 11:54

I can see why you'd be peed off but I wouldn't want to take money away from a school - money that is no doubt needed for more important things. First of all, they're probably painting it during school time because that's when the caretaker works or the only time they could schedule it in. It sounds like they had fenced off the area, had they told them to keep away too? If they had and your child ignored what they'd been told then it IS her fault. I'd be really cross if my 4 year old ignored the instructions of a teacher like that and I'd be replacing one of her christmas presents with a new coat rather than asking the school for money.

thisisyesterday · 03/12/2011 11:56

hmmm, i would have expected them to be supervised enough not to be able to do that, so i think responsibility does lie with the school

had they been told to stay away from it? (am assiming they can't read?)

MigratingChestnutsOnAnOpenFire · 03/12/2011 12:52

What Indigo said!!! totally.

belledechocchipcookie · 03/12/2011 12:57

Goodness, children get paint over themseves all the time. It's no big deal, they can still wear the coats. I wouldn't do anything, better this then take money away from an already stretched school budget. What would you rather they had? A new coat or books to read?

Rosa · 03/12/2011 13:01

Although I see the Op side of things I would want to know why the area was not fenced off or until it had dried an extra member of staff was not out keeping an eye on this area if it was not her DD then it could have easily been others.....

LIZS · 03/12/2011 13:01

of course not. The girls had moved the sign and barrier, not ideal but surely sufficent for them to know not to go there. Had they been verbally told too ? The coats are wearable and probably could be cleaned up a bit even if delicate. Even if you/others got money woudl you really buy another coat ?

Angelswings · 03/12/2011 13:02

Dont send kids to school in expensive coats unless you are prepared to replace when damaged or lost (this is at other parents not you OP)

In the winter when else can outdoor paint be done other than weekend. Too expensive.

Don't agree with compensation, but an apology is nice from the Head

Bonsoir · 03/12/2011 13:05

It is, IMO, amazingly stupid of a school to paint its premises during term-time.

BendyBob · 03/12/2011 13:07

I also think they should have been keeping a better eye on 4 year olds around whatever work was being carried out.

I'm not sure where you stand legally for this but I do think you have a valid point.

Angelswings · 03/12/2011 13:07

Bonsoir, have you tried to book contractors for a school?

lljkk · 03/12/2011 13:09

The coats will stink if you wash them with paint on (speaking from experience). Stinking up other items in the same wash load, I'd be loathe to do it, too. Using white spirit to get the paint off will make it stink even worse (I mean really awful and very persistent smell). I presume that it's more than a few specks of paint, more like big patches of it.

How much money are we talking here, OP? How much for you to replace the coat with new equivalent?

Bonsoir · 03/12/2011 13:13

No, but my DD's school always manages to do "work" during holidays. Holidays are usually less busy than term-times for contractors, so it's easier!

DownbytheRiverside · 03/12/2011 13:58

Bonsoir, all schools want work carried out in the holidays.
Sometimes, for various reasons, it really isn't possible.

thisisyesterday · 03/12/2011 14:26

the thiing is, given the fact that it was gloss paint (which really isn't going to come off of anything) and the fact that they allowed the children in the area to play I think that whoever was supervising should have kept a better eye on them

I also don't think that a couple of "wet paint" signs is really enough to keep children out. there must have been better ways of stopping them getting to it

2 small girls must have taken a while to remove all the wet paint signs and a big grit bin surely... why did no-one see them?

And the coats ARE ruined, even if they can still be worn. They have paint on them which is not removeably. And it could have been prevented. I would be really, really cross.

ds1's previous school and his current one have had no issue having work done at weekends/during holidays.

CecilyP · 03/12/2011 14:33

I agree with all you have said, thisisyesterday. And, white spirit will not take the paint out of clothes once the paint is dry. If someone had noticed when the paint was still wet, they might have been able to do something, but by the time the girls got home it would have been far too late.

jamdonut · 03/12/2011 15:49

Our school is being repainted in school time....doors,corridors,the lot. There are 300+ children ( ages 3 to 11) in the school,and cordened off areas and wet paint signs. Everyone has been told to be careful. There have been no painty accidents. The girls did something they shouldn't have done. I'm quite sure they would have been told to keep well away. Schools shouldn't be blamed if they have taken all reasonable precautions,which it sounds like this one did.

jamdonut · 03/12/2011 15:52

Just out of interest, what was the girls' reasons for moving the signs etc?

Acanthus · 03/12/2011 16:12

What does the uniform list say about coats? Are they supposed to be of delicate colours and fabrics, or are they supposed to be sensible navy jobs more than able to cope with a bit of white spirit?

scaevola · 03/12/2011 16:19

They were removing heavy obstacles (grit bin) to go into an area they had been specifically told to keep out of?

Assuming there as also been an oral instruction, these girls were being plain disobedient. I would be extremely cross with them, and back up the school in any further disciplinary measures. And if the coat needed replacing, the child would be "working" for it in extra chores.

A 4 year old who doesn't know the meaning of "no, keep out" or who refuses to comply is a danger to themselves, and the sooner these deficiencies are made up the better.

Angelswings · 03/12/2011 17:45

It didnt make the coins we put in much cleaner sadly

The truth I tell my kids about fizzy drinks is that it makes the snot worse when you have a cold :)

Angelswings · 03/12/2011 17:46

Sorry - wrong thread although maybe coke will make the paint come out if the coats?

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