Are you sending your children to school Tuesday and Wednesday?

[wonderouswelly]

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!

I do think there is an infrastructure problem. Lots of offices will have air con so actually many (but obviously not all) adults are in much comfier conditions than children. When mine was nursery age, the playground was lovely and shaded and they basically got paddling pools out on very hot days. I suspect lots of primary schools will be adapting the day but secondary feels like it has the potential to be pretty crap.

I’ll be sending my kids to school and nursery. School have given the usual advice on suncream, hats and water. Our school is having a big push on attendance so I can’t imagine they’d even consider encouraging absence unless mandated.
Nursery have indicated that they may have to close early and/or encourage parents to keep children at home.

Good grief, if it’s going to be that bad, do what the Spanish do, start earlier, finish earlier, it’s much hotter most of the time in southern Europe but they manage perfectly well. People really need to get a grip

DS's prep school sports day was today and it was perfect weather. But you are right, it would have been hell at 30 degrees plus. DCs will be at school as usual all week. We sent an electric fan for DS's dorm and I haven't seen anything from school to request taking them out.

I, on the other hand, am working from home. 😉

We had heatwaves in the 70s and we still went to school. All we had was cold milk at break and fountains. No water bottles. Maybe shade in playground. No sun cream applied! We survived. We certainly weren’t kept inside or at home.

My nephews are being sent to nursery/school
next week as their parents have to work. Their mum may have to wfh but she can’t work (and shouldn’t have to and wouldn’t do that) juggling a 2.5 year old and 7 year old.

School and nursery are more than set up for keeping kids cool, calm, fed and watered, protected from the sun and hydrated and inside school and nursery if necessary.

That's it, in countries that are hot a lot they have a more sensible daily routine and more sensible school uniforms (or no uniform)

Spanish schools are also just closed when the temperature is at its hottest. Usually their summer holidays are mid June to mid September-ish.

As a menopausal ginger, I will be jealous of you next week.

Of course. A couple of years ago during that 40c heat day they took it in turns to go into the two air conditioned rooms, had sandwiches for lunch and ate loads of freezer pops. We have no air con at home and I haven't stocked up on ice lollies!

You’d be surprised at how many schools are actually NOT set up for keeping kids cool, calm etc etc!

About 1/3 of our kids don’t even arrive with water bottles daily; we obviously have some cups for them. But that is it. Tap water isn’t pleasant in our school as it comes out slightly warm too!

We haven’t been given any information on any changes this week. Sports Day is still going ahead on Monday and Wednesday.

I may bring in some ice poles though if I am allowed!

It hit 39/40 a few years ago where I am and the kids were sent home from school. My DS decided to ride his bike up and down the road which was surely hotter than being in school 😂

I've no skin in this game now but I hope schools are sensible. I was once called to collect 6 year old DS on a hot day as he was unwell. It had been hot since sunrise, and he'd done PE outside, followed by break (outside) and a lesson, also outside. This was before it was common for kids to take water into school and he hadn't had a drink since leaving home.

Surely even those who do bring water, run out some point during the day, and therefore have to “suffer” the tap water?

My son’s school provides them, so we don’t send one either. I’m not interested how “pleasant” it is, if it’s 30 degrees - he’ll have to drink it.

I see. Yes, much hotter. I hadn't realised.

At the moment I am but I'm expecting not to let her go to her martial arts class after school. Too much exercise in a hot stuffy village hall with no air circulation!

For those saying hot at school, hot at home, for us I think it's different. At home she can chill in just her pants if she wants. We have air conditioning in our living room. And no being sent outside for an hour during the hottest part of the day at lunch time! So much better at home. Still planning to send her in although part of me would quite like not to!

Same as sicily but those temperatures ido occur before school closes and when they go back. Also, they get some awful heatwaves and the humidity is off the scale during those heatwaves. Saying all that they go to school from 8-1 latest and they dress casually.. Pretty sure past times air con didn't exist either. They adapted

To be fair to OP, classrooms can sometimes be absolutely horrendous during very hot weather. No fans, non-existent or broken blinds in full sun, windows that only open a crack or not at all, 30 sweaty Yr 6s. Grim doesn't cover it. It is NOTHING like being at home.

Hasn’t crossed my mind not to send them (no air con). However, I’m feeling a bit sorry for all the schools doing Duke of Edinburgh this week. Hopefully the teachers will be sensible and adjust plans accordingly!

It's only 33. As long as lots of water, in the shade (taxi should have air con too or an open window). It's ok, he won't melt.

Yes of course. They need their education

It’ll be 38° where I am on Wednesday! Classroom is going to be HOT. Will need to get out a cool floaty dress and just spray myself with water!!

In my classroom, the only windows that opened were small high up ones near the ceiling. They opened via a long pole with a hook on the end, and could only open from the bottom by about four inches.

I can't begin to imagine how the staff and kids in that classroom will cope with 39 degrees.

DS has mock exams, so no choice. He'd be going even if no exams. When he starts work he'll have to cope with heat.

Everyone's bodies are different. Some people cope better with heat than others