Too cold for shorts ?

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I feel his pain Judthepud2 i think DGS school will now at least be offering the option to wear shorts all year if his heart desires...which I am sure he will !

Glad to hear that is all sensibly resolved. My DGSs go to a school where wearing shorts is obligatory all year round. DGS2 claims this is discrimination as the girls are allowed to wear tights in the winter. He pulls his long grey socks up over his knees to keep warm

All resolved ladies .

My DD had a meeting with the Headteacher this afternoon. School Policy has been amended with immediate effect to specifically state shorts are suitable for both boys and girls ( can't discriminate !) during winter months as well as summer months if the child wants to wear them.

The rider was that commonsense be used and if a child is plainly cold then a note will go home to the Mum explaining this and then suitable action should be taken. For children with soup for blood like my DGS shorts are fine.

She also said at the staff meeting tomorrow she would draw all staffs attention to the amended policy.

My daughter explained her concern with the receptionist comments which were directly to her, not coming home through the child and the head apologised , and said that she thought it was probably a poorly phrased joke that really shouldn't have happened and she would have a quiet word.

My DD is more than happy with this , she didn't set out to make trouble for anyone just for people to stop making assumptions.

Just as an aside, walking the dog at the weekend he went past the tidal swimming pool ( we live on the coast)where he swims most days in the summer and as he sploshed in the shallows in his wellies( and shorts) i heard his little voice on the wind - it'll be alright to swim soon Nana !!! I think it might be longer than he thinks .

On yes. Sorry !

Greenfinch OP said her DD spoke to the receptionist.

( I notice someone mentioned liberty bodies.......they must have had such an affect on us as we are frequently on about them.)

I can't help but feel that the school were genuinely concerned; maybe better that than a school that doesn't even pick up on anything. I feel the cold so much myself that I hate to see children not wrapped up when it's cold, [especially babies without hats].

Did the words of the receptionist come home accurately ? My DD when she was 11 had a hand-knitted jumper while the rest of the students had shop-bought ones .One teacher made a pleasant comment which found its way home as "she said I stuck out like a sore thumb".Get the truth before challenging anyone.

Our postman wears shorts in all weathers perhaps he just wants to show off his lovely legs and he's looking fit on it.

Good for your GS. One of my GDs prefers socks to tights so she's bare-legged too and manages all right.

Boo to Bossy Britches receptionists

There is still a school round here that insists on shorts, they are allowed long trousers to go in but must remove these in the cloakroom. How many of them put these on at break time isn't known. Not many I bet. As long as he is happy and his legs are Ok (I have seen some awful chapped knees and legs rubbed sore by welly boots) I think it's fine. The receptionist should be made to apologise, she's there to do admin not to criticise parents.

Obviously the manufacturers of children's clothes want them to be in trousers because shorts are not outgrown or ripped to pieces as quickly. We've all been brainwashed!

Grazes heal; torn trousers don't. When DS1's trousers caught on a nail sticking out from the school building, the wound on his leg healed quickly - though a tetanus shot was needed. The trousers were impossible to mend but I did get compensation from the County Council who admitted liability! I he'd been wearing shorts, they would have been intact.

My husband's knees and the craters thereon are a joy to behold (not).

Took DGD to school today and hooray she was wearing hat, furry gilet and tights -

Isn't it odd the way old-fashioned rules on dress have now had a 100% sea change? Shorts used to be mandatory and now forbidden - surely all we need is a hefty dose of common sense?

I agree with everyone who says the receptionist was a bit out of line.
And I can remember the shorts, skirts and kneesocks, but also the grazed knees - I've still got some of the scars.

So long as his leggies legs aren't getting chapped.

Definitely stick to his "guns". All boys wore shorts until they started secondary school years ago, never did them any harm!

If it is his choice I see no reason why the school should think they know better. I assume this secretary only really intimated that his mother was bad rather than saying that outright, if she did, I would be making a formal complaint.

With outside classrooms these days children should have the choice of free flow play, i.e., they may stay outside virtually the whole time if that is their choice, staff need to set up activities outside every day and be ready for that and dressed appropriately themselves.

Thank you to all for your reassuring responses.

Just to add there is no school dress policy except for it to be in the school colours and that shorts /long trousers for boys, skirts, trousers or dresses for girls. So he's well within policy ( especially as he wore similar shorts all summer .

To answer Jingl they are knee length shorts ( I would call them Bermuda length) and sorry no long socks but pulled up ordinary socks( which makes me think Brit abroad ) So Im guessing theres about a 6 inch gap between sock and short.

I agree they shouldn't always get their own way but my advice to my DDs has always been pick your battles because you cant win them all, so does she really want to make the wearing of shorts the battleground?

He's definitely not getting teased , he has a group of little friends who seem to spend their playground time jumping in puddles and doing superhero type activities ! Shorts obviously assist this

My DD has arranged an appointment with the HT , to reassure them that he is not abused or neglected and to mention the receptionists comments as that was most distressing to her. It'll be interesting to know the schools point of view first hand .

As an alternative view back in the mid 70s I was driving to work, it was already a very hot day and therer were some girls in a very posh private school uniform still wearing their blazers and hats on their way to school.
Not acceptable either really.

I read the original headline as 'too OLD for shorts'! Well I definitely am!

Lovely word 'nesh'. I think it's Mancunian?

He should dress as he pleases, within the school's dress code. If he's getting teased by the other children and asks for trousers then he should have them.

Maybe the school has a policy to stop individuality, in which case it's time for a change of school!

Or maybe they just asked him if he was OK, and the receptionist was a bit out of line.

Unacceptable comment from anyone, let alone the receptionist. My 7-year-old GS doesn't feel the cold and it's impossible to force him into warm clothing. He's healthy so have given up worrying.

As a retired reception/infant teacher I spent many hours putting on coats doing up zips and buttons, hats,gloves and scarfs. Now I am wondering should I have just let them out to play? However, schools can be cold places! In reception the children are expected (even in coldest weather) to do some learning outside. This means the outside door is often open and the classroom ( well my classroom was cold) is cold. Once a child is cold they take a long time to warm up and are usually very upset. It is not just 15 minutes of playtime it is the hour outside at lunchtime play that is a worry. The children do not run round all the time! Yes some children never feel the cold while others do, if they are not feeling well they will also feel the cold.

The receptionist needs to be spoken to about her attitude and response to parents. She is not the person that should be passing on judgements that she has no knowledge of child/parent/circumstances etc.

When we saw the postman in his shorts we went into dress codes of childhood,remembering chapped knees and thighs.
I was moaning to my husband about the parents that send their young boys to school in the hottest days in long trousers. But perhaps it their choice.
X

Gillybob Good for that mum.
The schools are all geared up to recognise possible child neglect.
The problem is they don't always get it right either way.

vis Daniel Pelka
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-24106823

Where there was a lack of enough good professional nosiness .

Damned if you do damned if you don't get "nosy."