If your school is open, do your dcs get playtime in snow, or is it wet play?

[alittleteapot]

Just interested in the different policies of schools. I know there are health and safety issues but seems a shame if kids don't get out to play in snow.

Only if they have wellies / snow boots.

As only a fifth of the children arrived in wellies in heavy snow last week, we couldn't spare the personnel to keep so many inside, so the children geared up for fun had to stay in too. Very annoying for them (and the teachers who wanted to build igloos.) When will parents learn to dress their children appropriately?

They got reduced time today. No set rules, just depends on conditions.

dd had one playtime today when they were allowed to go out and play in snow. Lunch and afternoon play were deemed wet play - she said it was too slippery. I think this is a real shame - snow looked crisp to me at pick up and even if they couldn't risk the whole school out running around, surely they could have had class groups out to build snowmen?

All out today as long as they had a change of footwear, either boots to change into or pumps/trainers to put on when they came back in. One half of the field for snowballs, the other half for building snowmen. Snow angels only for those in full snow gear ( skisuits or sallopettes)

It is outside at ours, a reminder to ensure the children had wellies, gloves and hats was sent out but by nature of being a village school almost all the children have a pair of wellies they keep at school (no tarmac playground).
My Y3 dd told me that a large group if children from all classes joined up and they had been making an igloo, fantastic learning opertunity if you ask me as well as heaps of fun! Both my children where wrapped up warm and have their winter P.E kits in school if they needed a change.

Ds is in reception and they still have free access to outside space in snow. On days when there maybe snow in the morning that won't last they always make a point of getting them out to play in it first thing, last week ds has his weekly viset from the SaLT teacher out in the snow, probably one of the most effective therapy sessions he has had, pity his OT will probably miss doing a session in the snow which is a pity!

It would be such a shame and a massive waste of learning pottential to keep children indoors.

DS (Y1) spent a good chunk of the morning building igloos along with YR and Y2. They all have to keep a pair of wellies, a woolly hat and a pair of gloves in school anyway. He only has wet play if it is pouring hard.

They're usually kept it at DS's school, because it's "too icy".

in, sorry.

Ours go out. They all have wellies and most have waterproof trousers. Snowballs allowed and sledges as we have hills on the field. The children have had lots of extra outside time to enjoy the snow, especially as we have opened every day, which is quite unusual in this part of Norfolk!

Out for children who are appropriately dressed and have suitable footwear.

In for the chiildren in shorts, T-shirts and plimsolls [and no, I kid you not].

They were allowed out friday in the snow. No snowball rule though.

But had to stay in today as it was too icy .

They are supposed to have head to toe waterproofs in school at all times (coat, trousers, wellies) and have definitely played in the snow on Friday and today, although DS1 says they were sent out in "snow clothes, which is coat, hat, scarf and gloves". We had another two inches of soft snow today, very safe for playing, but the walk to and from school was hairy - too deep for pram; nearly broke my back putting DS2 in a sling.

Outdoor play here - I sent DD2 in with snowboots, she had a great time. Though she was initially very that DD1's school (secondary) was closed.

We had an extended break -45 mins instead of 15 - with all adults supervising (and table tennis in the hall for those who didn't want to go out, or who came in because they were cold.) But lunchtime was wet play.

My DD was told to bring in wellies, gloves and a hat, so that they could play in the snow.

Where I work (prep school) all children out on cleared playground for breaks unless we need to use it for early pick up. All games lessons are a free choice of sledging or table tennis - almost all opt for snow play! Children encouraged to bring in sledges, snow boots, ski wear etc to wear for games sessions. We do not hide behind H&S!!!

Oh and snowballs are allowed as long as they are not thrown at staff, unless staff specifically say they want to get involved!

Ours can play out as long as they have wellies, hat, glovez etc and one bit if the field us marked off for snowbalks :)

At my DDs school, the children were given a choice - to play out or stay in. If they go out, obviously they needed wellies and gloves etc.

On Friday, they were allowed to have a snowball fight, but not today as the snow was too icy. They were building snowmen though. This is according to my 6 year old, so it may or may not be true

I work in an infant school. We had outdoor play morning, lunch and afternoon as normal. Parents are told to send children with sensible footwear/outdoor clothes every day as we go out in all weathers generally. Still children without gloves and hats today, but still took them out for a while.
They need to get out in the snow - if they were kept in for wet play the children would be sky high and so much harder work for all involved.

DD's primary school is the same - out in all weather as much as possible. She was also out making snowmen at school today.

apparently morning break was extended to an hour and they had an hour and a half at lunch time to play outside

then the year six spent the last hour of the day having a massive snowball fight with about 8 of the teachers joining in -nice to see they are using their PPA time effectively

those with dcs who go out in all weathers - how does rainy play work? Ours are always kept in and last summer it was crazy - they had no time outside at all during school hours.

Alittleteapot - how do you walk to school when it's raining? Good waterproofs and wellies - so exactly the same can be worn for outside play in the weta and will keep the worst of the rain off.

Having a change of clothes at school helps.

The issue when it is continuously wet - as for example last summer - is getting hundreds of wet waterproofs hung up to dry, or even to drip somewhere innocuous in overcrowded school cloakrooms, without damaging anything else.

at ds's nursery they go out in all weathers. but they have more staff. my feeling is it just seems like a fag at dd's school.