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

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

Primary education

Reception children being taught how to use sparklers safely. WITH REAL SPARKELERS

187 replies

FrameyMcFrame · 20/10/2013 19:52

Apparently they're going to be practising name writing and letter formation with sparklers!?!?
Isn't that just asking for trouble?
A permission slip has come home, I really don't want my 4 year old using a sparkler. So I won't be giving permission, but am I being unreasonable to think that it's an insane idea?

OP posts:

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Ericaequites · 17/12/2013 21:26

It's totally inappropriate. Fireworks and children don't mix.
As for using proper scissors, woodwork tools, and cooking for littles, I favor this.

zingally · 07/11/2013 17:25

It's probably not something I'd do with my class of Receptions, but I'm not opposed in theory. At this time of year, it's a good chance to talk about firework safety. I remember myself first holding sparklers around that sort of age.

It's no different to teaching them to use knives and saws correctly. Both of which I've done with Reception.

Bumpsadaisie · 06/11/2013 12:09

Goodness me my (just turned) two year old used sparklers by himself without any problem.

What a load of fusspots!

Ragusa · 06/11/2013 09:39

If you don't generally trust the school to look after your child, then guess you will have to look at changing schools. Is there another one nearby? What are the other trust issues?

Re having a right to know what's going on, I don't think it is reasonable to expect the school to tell you everything that they are doing. It's not practical.

soxysarah · 06/11/2013 09:13

there has been on go trust issues with the school and head and this morning was told a load of bull how my little girl did not have one in her had and yet my 4 yr old described to me how she held it made circals with it. she is my child and i have a right to know whats going on

SatinSandals · 06/11/2013 07:37

Quite MissMarples. Parents would always have supervised their 4 yr olds with sparklers but now they won't they should be grateful that schools do it for them!

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 06/11/2013 07:29

My daughter's class are doing this. Except they're not reception, they're nursery class.

MissMarplesBloomers · 06/11/2013 07:10

Iwith Pacific upthread, if we remove ANY risky situation from our childrens' lives then we are failing them hugely, as they never learn to judge risk for themselves.

We are breeding a generation of children who are unable to enjoy learning about life, its risks & how to manage them and that is more dangerous ultimately than letting them learn in a controlled safe environment how to cope.

I hardly think OP that the school is going to let the kids loose with a box of matches & a pack of sparklers.

excellent article !

SatinSandals · 06/11/2013 06:58

I can't see what the Head can say, other than it was well planned, here was a proper risk assessment and NO children were injured!
Holding a sparkler used to be a common childhood experience.

Lizziegeorge · 06/11/2013 06:49

What a thoughtful and creative teacher. She 's probably bought them with her own money. Hope some parents offer to contribute instead of not trusting her to do her job.

SatinSandals · 05/11/2013 21:16

Obviously it wasn't too dangerous as no one was injured!! Not sure why you want to bypass the Head, surely that is the person to complain to?

Ragusa · 05/11/2013 18:56

soxysarah was anyone injured? if not, is it not safe to presume that they conducted the exercise safely??

FrameyMcFrame · 05/11/2013 17:48

Well DS did the fireworks activity and there was no problems!!!

OP posts:

soxysarah · 05/11/2013 16:44

really angry found out from my 4 yr old that she had a sparkler at school today no premistion slip, was not told this would happen no nothing i feel she is under age and it to dangerous for her to have one, there are only 3 teachers in the play ground so i asume at there was two teacher watching the kids but yet three kid with fire works this is so wrong i will be complaining if i can work out how i bypass the head

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 23/10/2013 21:44

YABU I think.

Being allowed to hold a sparkler was one of the joys of childhood. The school is showing a bit of independent thought which I like the idea of. The last you want is 30 robots per classroom turfed out at the end of the day.

Ragusa · 23/10/2013 21:40

Good grief. Let her do it .

In Scandinavian countries they have outdoor nurseries where children practice using real wood saws from around three years of age.

It's elf and safety goooorn maad in this country.

SatinSandals · 23/10/2013 19:01

With 2 children, 2 firemen and a teacher, and pages and pages of risk assessment, I don't see how any parent could now complain!

HorryIsUpduffed · 23/10/2013 16:47

I'd definitely volunteer to help if I thought there would be hunky firemen around.

Actually that makes me happier about the whole activity because it shows they're focusing on the fire safety aspect rather than the "let's draw letters" bit which as a pp said could just as easily be done in a sandpit.

ExcuseTypos · 23/10/2013 16:36

Oh good.

Hope they have fun.

Also wanted to say I think it's very understandable that you felt anxious about this, as your DS was burnt as a baby. This might be a great way for him to safety learn about sparklers- without you having to watch

FrameyMcFrame · 23/10/2013 16:29

She meant 2 children at a time.

OP posts:

ExcuseTypos · 23/10/2013 16:21

So the teacher is doing this with 2 children at a time, or do you mean the children are in pairs and doing it all together?

FrameyMcFrame · 23/10/2013 16:14

Well they got back to me after I asked about the under 5s thing and voiced my concerns about supervision. They said that they've looked into it and phoned the fire service and....

Now the fire service are coming in to help and there will be 2 firemen plus a teacher!!!!
The children will be in pairs doing the activity.
I think she was a little fed up as she said they've done it every year for the last 3 years without any problems.
Anyway, I think it will be ok as they're bringing in the firemen...!

OP posts:

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CecilyP · 23/10/2013 07:21

Any activity the school offers will be subject to an intense and vigorous risk assessment and will have to comply with strict health and safety guidelines.

Whilst, at the same time, completely ignoring official guidelines? I will be interested in what more OP can find out from the school.

SatinSandals · 23/10/2013 07:21

I agree, you would not believe the paperwork necessary for the risk assessment! They are not going to do what the parent would do and just give them a sparkler!

Schmedz · 22/10/2013 23:35

Any activity the school offers will be subject to an intense and vigorous risk assessment and will have to comply with strict health and safety guidelines.
What a fun and interesting way of engaging the children...lucky kids to be at a school willing to go through all the paperwork to offer such a cool activity!

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