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Original poster

Do children not get changed for P.E anymore?

101 replies

Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:18

My daughter starts school in September and I noticed one of their uniform policy’s is that children must come to school in their P.E kit and remain in their P.E kit all day until they go home? I’m just wondering is this standard practice in schools nowadays? As I remember the days we all used to get changed for P.E in the classroom and then you’d change back into your uniform after P.E? It just seems abit odd to stay in your P.E kit all day?

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TheGriffle · 07/05/2022 08:20

My year 4 daughter stays in her pe kit all day, this has changed since covid, they used to get changed.

My F2 (reception) age daughter gets changed at school into her kit as I think it’s part of the curriculum learning to turn clothes the right way round and put them on independently.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 07/05/2022 08:22

Yep. That's how it is now. It was originally a Covid measure but schools have kept it on because its less hassle than making 30 kids get dressed and undressed.
I send mine in joggers, a T. Shirt and the school jumper on top.

Sadnesser · 07/05/2022 08:22

It’s a covid thing. To be honest I quite like it. PE kit twice a week, uniform 3 days…. Means the uniform gets less wear and the PE kit a more wear so I’ve got away with buying fewer sets of uniform and they’re not on their last legs by this point of the year.

Beepbopblop · 07/05/2022 08:24

My Y4 now has a uniform for for PE kit days, it also changed during covid.

They also don’t need to change into indoor shoes / pumps.

Probably saves a lot of time during the school day (and stress for the teacher!)

Original poster
Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:24

Thank you for that! I thought it might have been something they changed since covid 🙃

OP posts:
TabithaHazel · 07/05/2022 08:25

DS gets changed for PE at school (in reception). They send the kit home every half term to be washed.

Whatwouldscullydo · 07/05/2022 08:26

Yes dd2 is in year six and since covid they have gone to school in pe kit.

Its actually better I think as not only is it quicker to put on in the morning as opposed to shirt tie etc .

Solved the changing issue too as dd had been uncomfortable changing in the same classroom as the boys fir a while.

roosnunlilei · 07/05/2022 08:26

Ours have just gone back to changing which to me makes no sense. They were getting so much more PE time when there was no faffing in the changing rooms for 10 mins each end of lesson.

Original poster
Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:26

Thank you for clearing it up everybody! I suppose it does make more sense really 😅

OP posts:
Margo34 · 07/05/2022 08:27

Yep, post COVID. It is so much better from a teacher's perspective as children have more time actually doing PE for the whole hour and being active (rather than 15m changing before and 15m after).

Original poster
Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:27

No I completely understand, that makes no sense at all!

OP posts:
scissy · 07/05/2022 08:27

It's a COVID measure that was so popular it stuck. My DD's school consulted the parents on it, they overwhelmingly voted to keep it.

For one thing, it stops the end of term "find the correct owner of PE kit" or situations when they're getting changed of them going home in each other's clothes by accident...

Original poster
Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:28

And less time chatting with their friends in the changing rooms 😂😂😂

OP posts:
nearlyspringyay · 07/05/2022 08:28

Yep covid and makes so much more sense.

CrumpetandSausage · 07/05/2022 08:28

Covid thing. My school asked the parents and the preference was for wearing PE kit all day. Does mean you need to plan buying school uniform - need less uniform and more PE kit.

nearlyspringyay · 07/05/2022 08:29

Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:28

And less time chatting with their friends in the changing rooms 😂😂😂

Most primaries don't have changing rooms, they get changed in the classroom which brings up its own issues when they're y5/6

Fedupsotired · 07/05/2022 08:30

Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:18

My daughter starts school in September and I noticed one of their uniform policy’s is that children must come to school in their P.E kit and remain in their P.E kit all day until they go home? I’m just wondering is this standard practice in schools nowadays? As I remember the days we all used to get changed for P.E in the classroom and then you’d change back into your uniform after P.E? It just seems abit odd to stay in your P.E kit all day?

Said by someone who has never tried to change 30 4/5yr olds for PE to find you've exactly 3 minutes of a lesson before having to get changed back 🤣🤣.

Sorry OP for teasing but this is something I was trying to get changed pre covid after a holiday in Australia where the children always went to school in PE kits, seemed to make so much more sense.

The only thing though is it can have a negative regarding safeguarding as there are fewer opportunities for the children to be 'checked' over

Original poster
Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:30

Thank you! I have bought a few bits already. Wasn’t sure if I was going overboard buying 2 hoodies for P.E but I’ll definitely do that now!

OP posts:
Lynnthesearesexnotgenderpeople · 07/05/2022 08:31

Yes, my kids school do this now too.
It's annoying in several ways:

  • they do PE twice a week on different days, so I have to make sure that each of their PE kits are washed at the right time so they can be worn again. I'm not sure whether to just buy more PE kit for next year now.
  • I (stupidly I guess) assumed it wouldn't be permanent so I bought uniform as if they would be wearing normal uniform each day.
  • We have to remember it's a PE day, although we are in the swing of this a bit more now!
adagio · 07/05/2022 08:32

Yep changed since covid, I also notice a lot more parents (me included) opt for plain ish trainers all week.

Primary uniform policy usually says something like sensible appropriate footwear. From what I can see at our school most have shunned clarks Mary Janes since covid return after being totally stung with £££ shoes worn twice then yet another lockdown /snack cupboard available/ hence growth spurt. In Wales we had a lot of lockdowns!

So before you part with £47 at clarks, check what everyone else is doing!
Sports sites (adidas, new balance etc) often have great clearance ranges in kids smaller sizes and huge discounts if you search for ‘discount code for brand xxx’.

Original poster
Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:32

No I totally understand 😂 It’s hard enough getting a 2 and 4 year old ready in the morning let alone 30 of them 😂😂😂

OP posts:
Whatwouldscullydo · 07/05/2022 08:33

Yes definitely get 2 lots. Dd has pe on Mondays and Wednesdays so getting it washed and dried in time can be tricky. Especially as she swims on a Monday and my shifts at work can vary

tiredanddangerous · 07/05/2022 08:34

Yes as others have said this began during covid and most primary schools seem to have kept up with it.

I'll always remember the TA in DC1's reception class telling me that it had taken an hour to get 30 kids into their PE kits for their first PE lesson

Original poster
Cottonbud25 · 07/05/2022 08:35

Thank you! I’ve managed to get her some all black adidas trainers and I got her some Toezone school shoes from Very. I was going to get her a spare pair of school shoes but actually I don’t think I’ll bother if she isn’t going to be wearing them every day!

OP posts:
southlondoner02 · 07/05/2022 08:37

This has always been the case in DDs school, even pre Covid. Just easier all round. Mind you her school don't have uniform so they're just told to wear appropriate clothes and trainers so kids do their pe in shorts, leggings, trackie bottoms etc. Seems to work fine.

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