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Original poster

Would a good teacher ask the child to put his jumper on?

59 replies

Fiona2011231 · 03/12/2014 19:53

I ask this question for my friend, as I don't really know the answer. First, to put it in the context, my friend's child is in Year 1 at a school which is not the first choice (for my friend). So she is often anxious on whether the school is good or not.

Yesterday, there was this story. As you know, for the PE session, the children would change clothes. After the PE session, the child changed back into his uniform, but he did not put his jumper on. Instead, he just placed the jumper into his bag. When the child came home, he got a cold, although it should be noted that he still got his coat on.

My friend was wondering whether in a better school, a teacher would ask the child to put his jumper on, with the coat on later, before he left the class.

Do you think a better teacher would do so, or is my friend too sensitive?

Thank you

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 03/12/2014 19:56

What a strangely written post.

She's too sensitive.

Year 1 children can put their own jumpers on if they want to. The child had a coat on. They would not have caught a cold from not wearing a jumper. It takes a virus or bacteria.

Her child is in that school now and she needs to take a positive approach to her sons education while he is there rather than looking for problems.

Roseformeplease · 03/12/2014 19:57

A teacher's job is to teach. They may support younger ones to make good choices but, really?

Also, a cold is a viral infection. You can't catch a cold from not wearing a jumper. In fact, warm, centrally heated classrooms are breeding grounds for all sorts of bugs - children running around outdoors are far less likely to pass on any illnesses.

Madamecastafiore · 03/12/2014 19:58

If the kids cold at that age he should know to put his jumper on. In year one the teacher shouldn't have to go around checking every child is dressed.

You also don't catch a cold from being cold. It's viral.

KittyandTeal · 03/12/2014 19:59

Well if you want an ofsted good there is no mention of jumper wearing in the guidelines.

I don't think your child wearing a jumper home after pe in indicative of a 'good' school or not.

Have taught ks1 for many years I would say the child was possibly asked if he was cold. I would very rarely insist on children wearing jumpers, it is good for them to have some understanding of their own body temperature etc. I would, however, ask throughout the day 'are you sure you're not cold?' Or 'do you need your jumper now'

DontGotoRoehampton · 03/12/2014 19:59

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bloodyteenagers · 03/12/2014 20:01

Why is the teacher getting blamed here? Mum could have quiet easily seen the lack of jumper and got him to put it on.

Groovee · 03/12/2014 20:02

A cold is viral. Not because he didn't wear a jumper.

dancingwitch · 03/12/2014 20:04

Could you friend not take some responsibility for this? Surely sometime in the last 6 years she could have taught him to put a jumper on when he is cold & take it off when he is. When DD started reception I did make a point of telling the teacher that DD doesn't feel the cold but gets hot easily so not to worry if everyone else was in a jumper and DD wasn't but I have also taught DD to say this herself.

Pelicangiraffe · 03/12/2014 20:05

If he was at nursery it would be the staffs responsibility but at school it usually left to the child unless the parent has expressed concern about illness and wants the teacher to keep a close eye on the child for a week or two

MistAndAWeepingRain · 03/12/2014 20:07

What an odd post. This is not any kind of an issue.

Yr 1 child (so 5 or 6) takes jumper off and puts it in their bag. It wasn't hidden from them in any way. If they were cold, they could have put it back on surely? A 5 year old knows if they are cold and what to do about it.

My own Yr 1 child is a hot bod and frequently takes off her jumper. Her teacher has occasionally been known to say 'are you sure you don't want your cardigan?' to her but that's all. I would be annoyed if anyone tried to insist she wear it.

My DDs school is Ofsted Outstanding BTW. I think your friend needs to cultivate a more positive attitude to her child's school.

atticusclaw · 03/12/2014 20:07

As others have said he did not catch a cold from not wearing a jumper.

Plus my DSs go to a fairly expensive fee paying school rated very highly in the league tables and winner of prep school of the year a couple of years back. Definitely regarded as a "good" school (to use your terminology). DS2 every day without fail comes home without his jumper on.

youarekiddingme · 03/12/2014 20:14

Good god they wouldn't have asked him - no! Everyone feels the cold differently and heating is on in schools this time of year.

My year 6 DS still comes out in a shirt in winter and still wearing his jumper when it's a heatwave! He has SN TBF to him and the teacher has lots of other pupils to TBF to her.

youarekiddingme · 03/12/2014 20:14

Ps a cold is a virus!

ChippingInAutumnLover · 03/12/2014 20:18

atticus All That Money and No Jumper Supervision. You must be seething.

Our also fee paying prep school makes the kids put their coats on before they leave, small person is like me (I'm still standing there in a t-shirt, maybe a cardi in this weather) she walks the 10 steps to me and promptly takes it off again. At 9 you'd think they could all make their own minds up, I mean they are all met by parents at the door...it's not like they're walking 10 miles home on their own Grin

spanieleyes · 03/12/2014 20:22

I would be seriously concerned about this and feel the school is heading straight for Special Measures..................

..............................or not, as the case might be!

Azquilith · 03/12/2014 20:24

Must add approach to jumper wearing to my list of school considerations for PFB.

SavoyCabbage · 03/12/2014 20:25

Is be annoyed if they insisted my child wear a jumper when my child had made the decision not to as I would assume my child did not feel cold at that time.

If she wants be be cross, she should be cross at her child. Jumper wearing is not up to the teacher.

2kidsintow · 03/12/2014 20:26

I have a friend who rates her daughter's year one teacher as a terrible teacher on the basis that on a few occasions, her daughter was let out of school (to walk directly to her waiting Mum) without her cardigan on.

The same teacher is my DD's favourite so far (they are now in year 5).

KatieKaye · 03/12/2014 20:35

Your friend really thinks that a short period of not wearing a jumper results in a instant cold? Oh dear...

Her DS put his jumper in his bag presumably because he was warm enough without it.

If that's her only problem with the school then it sounds like it's pretty good.

Marmaladecat1 · 03/12/2014 20:41

Wow! I have nothing to add tbh as I have never agreed with every other single poster before.

HolgerDanske · 03/12/2014 20:51

I think the OP is writing in English as a second language which explains why it comes across rather oddly.

rollonthesummer · 03/12/2014 20:57

The child 'got a cold' in between finishing PE and arriving home and you think the cause was not wearing a jumper?!

I think I'll get back to plotting my escape route out of teaching rather than reading such utter piffle. Some parents absolutely astound me.

fatterface · 03/12/2014 20:59

The teacher can remind/encourage children to wear jumpers or coats but can't force them.

A 5 or 6 year old should be able to recognise if they are chilly.

Not wearing a jumper on the walk home from school can't make a child ill.

Gileswithachainsaw · 03/12/2014 21:08

omfg

first up 5/6 year olds can put their own jumpers on.

If he was hypo thermic she might have a point

a cold however is viral and not dependant on layers of clothing being removed to manifest itself.

She's crazy

catkind · 03/12/2014 21:33

Are your children younger OP? By the time they're at school it's definitely the child's choice and responsibility. I'll send DS (Yr 1) back in for his jumper if I notice he doesn't have it, but he often doesn't take one or just brings it home in his bag.