Whats your schools playground like for shade?

[charliecat]

Theres hardly any in dds playground. They have 4 tables with parasols...hoever, if the suns not directly above then the shade isnt on the people who are sitting at the table, they have one of those wooden structures with a tree growing through it that does create a bit of shade but thats maybe 5% of the playground.
Guidelines from ? say to stay out of the sun between 11-3.. thats lunch playtime out in the scorching heat. (Were in the south east)
Whats your playground like for shade and is there any bumf I could go to the school with saying I dont think its up to scratch?

Blu I put DS in school uniform.

I think suncream is the best thing and at my kids nursery they always apply it before going out. But you realy think this is so hot???
Personally I'm more worried when the kids are sent out to play in the cold wind...

DD's nursery have a huge awning contraption held aloft on massive steel stilts.

I also think school uniforms should be designed to be safe comfy and sensible in all weathers....that could be a better answer than expensive sails which then rot in winter etc etc.

At DS's school this a.m children were being sent home to put on more practical clothing because of the sun. (boys without tops, girls in miniscule strappy cropped tops and pant-style shorts...oh please!)

Really blu? At DD's nursery they have a rule of no vest tops - ie it has to be a t-shirt. Actually I have sent DS in knee length shorts, black leather shoes, socks and a polo shirt (sleeves elbow length) with his sunhat.

All the little girls in DD's class (Yr 2) all come into school with suncream which they apply themselves. It's more of a must-have accessory TBH as they aren't really out there for very long over the whole day are they?.

But their longest period outside is at the hottest time of day. our PTA just provided free legionnaire hats for the whole reception class

Ours did the same with the hats, and then on the same day they sent a slip home with all the kids asking us to check their hair for lice!!

DS has his own hat that he wears!!

It used to be fine until the idiot builders who re-surfaced our playground drilled into the roots of the trees thereby killing them. They had to be cut down for safety. They were gorgeous and offered so much shade. Shame

At Ds' school they ask us to put cream on in the morning, and send a bottle in, which the teacher puts on at lunchtime. They also have to have a sunhat.

They've just built a pergola at the DSs' school and we've had letters advising suncream and hats. However, they don't enforce it. When we lived in Singapore there was a "no hat, no play" rule at school.

the playground at ds 2's infant school is exposed but they have an area called "the secret garden" where they can go, there is a large table with a parasol, plenty of trees offering shade and even a miniature train track!.
they are allowed to eat their lunch in the secret garden if they want.

My dd1 has being coming home from school this week feeling poorly, overheating, red etc. She has a hat but not many do (if staff remind themto wear them)and I cover her in cream in the am.
But their school lunchtime is 1 1/4 hours all outside(they eat lunch outside) and the only shade is a couple of trees and the building itself.
She will be coming home tomorrow at lunchtime just fro some time away from the sun.

Bozza - sorry, wasn't clear - they were sending them home to get proper T shirts - vests and exposed flesh not allowed for girls or boys.
Advantage of non-uniform school - you can choose to send them in v cool cotton cover-up clothing, disadvantage - some parents don't engage brain!

UPDATE** Fired off an email to the headmaster last night as sports day is looming and they sit them out in this heat to FRY for up to 2 hours.
In assembly this morning they announced that as of today the children could choose to play inside as it was so hot outside....

Charliecat, I'm fed up of always being a moaning parent. For all our sakes, could you, would you, please, pretty please, send a letter to the Education Department?! I know, sorry I asked! But it shouldn't be a privledge to be able to opt for indoor play in this heat!