Are our children being looked after properly in education while we are working?

[Ccazzy]

I am currently looking for primary schools for my son to start in September 2013 and whilst looking round these I have been shocked by the lack of care children are given at break times in relation to the unsuitable clothes the children have on.

It was -1.5 degress outside last week and the first school I visited had a lot of children without coats on never mind hats, scarves and gloves. I spoke to the office staff regarding this as a matter of great concern and they said they would look into it.

I then went to a second Primary school in my area on the same cold day and those children from reception and above also didn't have their coats on.

I have been back to the first school yesterday and it was raining heavily and again some children did not have their coats on. It was an improvement but it was a shame on those who were cold and wet through. Today it is 6 degrees and I counted at least 18 children without their coats on but the staff in the playground had their coats on.

I spoke to the person in charge of the welfare staff who 'look after' the children in the playground and she said that children aged 8 years onwards are responsible for putting their own coats on. They have been reminded to put their coats on but it is their responsibility.

I feel as a parent that when leaving my child in the care of a school dressed in the correct clothes for the weather I expect someone their to take charge and ensure each and every child is dressed correctly. If my son refused to wear his coat on a frosty day or when it is raining I expect to be informed so that I can speak with my son so that he will wear the correct clothes next time at school. If he didn't I would have thought he wouldn't be allowed to play outside. According to this particular school it is up to the child.

My greatest worry is that this is happening across the country but parents are unaware as we leave our children dressed correctly assuming they will be at break time when we are not there.

I urge you all to ask your children if they wore their coats today. Check to make sure our children are not at risk of neglect whilst in somebody else's care. To me if their basic needs are not being met then the schools are failing the well being of the children and the trust of parents.

Ccazzy (concerned parent)

[kilmuir]

children don't play out if its raining heavily

[BackforGood]

Children don't feel the cold like we adults do. If it was break time, they were likely to only be outside for 15mins anyway - even at lunch it won't be more than about 40mins tops. What you'll find is that there will be a pile of coats in the corner somewhere, where they have stripped off as they have becaome hot or their coat is getting in the way of their game.
Believe me, you'll laugh at this in a few years.

[CaseyShraeger]

I'd want my Reception DD to be prompted to put on her coat, but Y3 DS rarely wears his if he can get away without it and that's fine with me. If he's cold, he'll put it on.

[TeamSledward]

[Meglet]

DS is only 6 but he is old enough to know that he should put his coat and hat on if it's cold, but I bed he doesn't bother every day.

I'm sure no children have ever got hypothermia during lunch break, they tear around like mad things and keep warm.

[annh]

i rather suspect the school concerned was deliberately removing coats from the children on the second visit so the OP would not send her child there and they wouldn't have to deal with her for seven years! Honestly, how much time would be wasted if every parent had to be informed every time their dc did not wear a coat at playtime? OP, you need to not sweat the small stuff at school. Will you also be demanding notes every time your child doesn't eat his lunch? Refuses to have a drink of water? You do know that in most schools they will still be doing PE outside in tracksuits?

[GimmeIrnBru]

I always thought I'd be one of those parents like the OP, but I'm not because I've got another DC to look after whilst the eldest is at school each day. I don't have the time to 'sweat the small stuff' as another poster had put it. They will be fine outside without a coat on, they are all running around daft for such a short space of time, then they have to go back in when the bell rings for their lessons.

[lainey1234]

Oh dear! I've been a primary teacher for nearly 10 years. Have taught every age fr

[nkf]

It wasn't a matter of "great concern" was it? I think you must be making this up. God, I was a twerp first time round but even I didn't get this bad.

[SizzleSazz]

At dd's school Reception children's coats are checked (on and done up) as they leave class (when v cold/wet). Older dc are reminded to put on their coats, but ultimately left to them if they do or don't.

[lainey1234]

Every age from 3 to 11. When it comes to coats, you can tell them to put them on, zip them up, tie on their mittens/hat a thousand times. Sometimes even put them in the coat when there's snow and ice on the ground. The fact of the matter is that if they don't want it on, no matter the weather, you will find it used as a goal post, decorating the fence, used as a cushion, or just dumped on the field !! Of course we care and don't want the children to be cold, but they can make their own decision and will no matter what you do sometimes!!

[AgentProvocateur]

Oh dear. You're at the bottom of a very steep learning curve.

[Battlefront]

At 8yo, a matter of great concern? Really?

1. They're running around like wild things so they're probably not cold - they wouldn't wear a coat to play football, you wouldn't wear a coat to go for a run.
   
   
2. If they're cold they can go and get a coat
   
   
3. Some children are sent without coats - our Deputy Head phoned a parent yesterday to ask them to send one in for a 7yo, so you are being very unreasonable to assume it's the schools who aren't caring for these children.
   
   4)There is a world of difference between the (presumably) 3/4 yo you're researching schools for and the 8yo who is being allowed to decide for himself if he wants a coat and you will come to realise just how ridiculous you are being in time.

[balia]

Home Educate.

'Tis the only way to ensure your PFB is wrapped up at all times and not mixing with any nasty children who can make their own minds up about wearing a coat. He might start wanting to have some kind of control over his own life and then he might - horrors - move out before his 40th birthday!

[missmapp]

I spend most of my time on playground duty asking children to go back and put a coat on, I get a moan, a roll of eyes and a slump back inside. When it is really cold, I will insist, but otherwise it is up to the children- oh, and sometimes ( quite often actually) they havn't worn a coat to school anyway.

[redskyatnight]

DS never wears a coat - or a jumper - and it's not for want of trying to make him wear one.

Last year he had a teacher that insisted they put their coats on at playtime. Ds used to take it off again as soon as she was out of sight.

[petalpower]

I am a primary teacher and have had parents complaining that their children were asked to wear coats at breaktimes! Loads of children come into school without a coat even when it's cold or raining.

[lljkk]

There's a 10yo boy at DC school still wearing shorts every day. He's obviously perfectly happy. His mum is VC of the Governors. What an example to set, eh?! Tsk Tsk.

[Vagaceratops]

Where is the OP gone?

It is very odd round here lately.