Page 23 | Are you sending your children to school Tuesday and Wednesday?

wonderouswelly · 2026-06-20T19:37:38+00:00

I am a teacher and have heard lots of parents won’t be sending their children in during the heat wave next week. Are you keeping yours off? I am dreading it as a teacher; our classroom is so stuffy!

palanoma · Today 17:59

I think the teachers should just all faint together. That'll sort the dilemma out, everyone home!

busymomtoone · Today 18:03

WiltedLettuce · Today 10:17

I find it really annoying that people seem to think that this is a decision for parents to make. If the school is open, there isn't really a choice for parents to make. Kids should be going in.

I also find it annoying that there are teachers on this thread suggesting that, even if schools are open, parents are irresponsible to send kids in. After all the messages and edicts on the importance of attendance, it's a slap in the face.

It is the school's job and teachers' job to keep kids in their care safe and comfortable. If they can't, the school should close. In the absence of any special health conditions that my child has, this is a risk assessment for my DC's school not for me. If my child becomes ill or overheated at school because the school hasn't managed the risk properly, I'll complain because the school hasn't done its job properly. Schools are in loco parentis for the kids in their care and responsible for their welfare. If kids are overheating or becoming ill and nauseous, this is a failing on the part of the school for not doing their job not my failing as a parent for sending them in.

The issue is that whilst there’s a legal minimum temp, there’s no legal maximum, so no head is going to upset governors, trusts and d of e by unlawfully shutting a school “ just because” it’s extremely uncomfortable and a few children may get ill/ sick from the heat. You can by all means take it up with the school - but no school is magically finding money for air con, blinds, altering windows so children can climb out of third storey buildings!! Sadly!

JanefromLondon1 · Today 18:09

IlikebigboatsandIcannotlie · Today 10:22

Your education hasn't done you an awful lot of good if you havent worked out that in hot countries
a) they are acclimatised to it
b) their daily routine generally is planned around the peak temperatures - hence the Mediterranean siesta
c) their school uniforms will be a different design
d) their buildings will be a different design

There's no point in an education if you don't also think

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Oh I have worked it out and it’s literally a few days/weeks here. The kids won’t melt, they can get water from a tap which is cold and clean. Keeping your kids off, unless they’re medically vulnerable, is a huge over reaction.

Bossbear · Today 18:17

scalt · Yesterday 20:48

Only on Mumsnet would anyone even consider not sending children in.

Everything is so polarised; it’s either unprecedented extreme heat, or the beast from the east. Nothing in between.

We have to stop being so precious about things like this. and remember, don’t moan about the heat; do so kills the sun fairies.

The extremes of weather are caused by climate change. It's not just people moaning.

saraclara · Today 18:38

Augustus40 · Today 08:48

How do schools in say Africa manage then?

Are British classrooms so ill equipped?

You would think water coolers and pedestal fans could be used... guess the usual lack of funding is the issue.

The schools in the area of sub Saharan Africa that I'm familiar with have a school day that's apx 7am-1pm. They have solid walls with high 'windows' that aren't glazed, but just have bars across. The classrooms are dark, but they're cool.

My classroom in the UK, like many, had windows on two sides that were basically walls of glass from my waist level to the ceiling. And no openings. One of the other walls had small rectangular windows almost at ceiling level, that only opened (from the bottom) by three or four inches.

Julimia · Today 19:12

Surprised thats all you have to think about if you are a teacher!

FFSItsTooHot · Today 19:17

A friend of mine said her neighbour's child is due to have their sports day on Wednesday, and there's been no mention of it being postponed. Crazy to have a sports day in 39 degrees heat. Just asking for trouble. When will people wake up the fact that extreme heat can be as dangerous as extreme cold?

ColdWaterDipper · Today 19:20

Yes of course (and I have one who faints when they get too hot). I just hope there will be some sense shown and children are allowed to go in non-school uniform so they can wear shorts and t-shirts or at least they are allowed not to wear their blazers!

MadeInTheNorth · Today 19:27

Thank goodness the exams are over 😵‍💫

Peekaboooooo · Today 19:32

I'm a teacher and I'll be working through it. However, my mum has very kindly offered to look after my 5 and 7 year old on Tuesday and Wednesday. My 7 year old is getting over tonsillitis at the moment anyway.

PrettyLittleRose · Today 19:37

Shortsally42 · Today 07:09

And I'm amazed someone can be so short sighted.

You grew up in a country where buildings were designed with hot weather in mind. Many
English buildings trap the heat. Also if you grew up in a hot country you are acclimatised to hot weather. People here aren't.

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This. ^ Doesn't take much to make some people on here 'chuckle...' 🙄

PrettyLittleRose · Today 19:38

FFSItsTooHot · Today 19:17

A friend of mine said her neighbour's child is due to have their sports day on Wednesday, and there's been no mention of it being postponed. Crazy to have a sports day in 39 degrees heat. Just asking for trouble. When will people wake up the fact that extreme heat can be as dangerous as extreme cold?

Edited

Yes, that is bonkers!

Cannotbelievepeoplecanbesojudgemental · Today 19:40

We have sent a letter to parents reminding them to send a sunhat, wear suncream, wear pe kit etc. We've also promised to keep them inside if needed.
What the parents don't realise is that this will mean 60+ children spending their break / lunch in a cramped, already extremely hot classroom - we have minimum (legal) lunchtime supervision. Our playground & field has no shade whatsoever. I don't know what's worse. Neither is acceptable in my opinion.

shrunkenhead · Today 19:41

If I am going to work the kids are going to school. Sure all these employers will be more than happy to give their staff time off to look after their kids as it's too hot.🙄

lilkitten · Today 19:47

It seems DD's school has air con, she'd be better off there compared to home. They've already said to wear short-sleeved shirts and shorts/skirts (no ties either) so they'll probably be okay. I'll be at work in a workshop, it'll be incredibly hot with flamework etc, school will be way better.