With the safety and welfare of your child at the heart of everything that Fair Oak Junior School does, and with the main aim of student enjoyment and life-long involvement, Mr Stredwick has been watching and following up-to-date national guidance both from the government and from the national governing bodies of sport to ensure that the Junior School PE programme follows the rules and regulations, whilst permitting a range of activities and sports to be studied.
We have received some calls and communications related to PE and the PE uniform and I want to try to clarify some of the issues here if I can.
Q. Will my child need to come into school wearing their PE kit on days when they have PE?
A. Yes! The national advice here is to remove the need to access and use changing areas that are not covid-friendly. In-keeping with all sports clubs and most leisure centres the advice is to come already changed and ready to participate. Spare PE kit can no longer be lent and used.
Q. What happens if my child gets wet and muddy and cannot change their clothes?
A. PE lessons will not take place outside if it is raining heavily. Teachers will make a professional judgement about whether an activity can take place on the day of a lesson and may also decide to switch activities or venues rather than risk any student being cold and wet all day. There may however, be occasions when a lesson has already begun outside in dry conditions but it then rains suddenly. As a result of this, students may get slightly wet while coming back inside.
Q. Can my child wear any additional kit/clothing in order to keep and stay warm?
A. Yes! Remember that black shorts and the green Junior School tee shirt remain compulsory items of PE kit that should be worn for every lesson. But your child can also wear a pair of plain black track suit bottoms or leggings as well as their shorts for additional warmth and comfort. Base layers or ‘second skins’ are also a popular way of keeping warm and are permitted as long as they remain predominantly covered by either the PE top or a pair of tracksuit bottoms. In addition, (and as a short-term measure) your child will be permitted to wear a suitable outdoor, waterproof coat or jacket (preferably predominantly black) for all outdoor lessons. This should help them to keep warm and comfortable not only during lessons but throughout the day (coats must be removed indoors for all lessons as usual). Coats should not be too ‘bulky’ as this will restrict movement during lessons. Ideally, light waterproof ‘training jackets’ that allow ease of movement should be worn.
Q. Will my child need any additional footwear for their PE lessons?
A. Some sessions may be timetabled on the field, and it is advisable to bring a second pair of trainers or studded boots to promote Health and Safety as well as learning in these lessons. An extra pair of socks is also a good idea should your first pair get wet or sweaty!
I hope that the above has answered most questions and queries that you may have about PE at Fair Oak Junior School going forward.
Yours sincerely
Jon Stredwick
(Curriculum Leader – PE)