26 January 2023 , 08:32
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A primary school has apologised to parents after punishing a group of four-year-olds by making them stand in freezing temperatures.
The reception class children were said to have come home upset after being made to queue outside without any jumpers or coats on.
Pupils had been lining up inside ahead of a class when a small number were caught chatting, according to a family member.
A supervising teacher apparently told them to be quiet but, after they failed to do so, ordered a group to assemble outside Francis Askew Primary School in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire,.
A relative of two of the children said some of them were "brought to tears" because of how cold it was, claiming temperatures had dipped below freezing at the time.
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Pupils had been lining up inside Francis Askew Primary School when a small number were apparently caught chattingThe family member told Hull Live: "My niece and nephew are both four years old and attend the school. That day it was absolutely freezing, we had just had snow and it felt like -7C.
"They were dressed for inside so had no coats on, no jumpers or cardigans on, and were just wearing T-shirts. They were made to line-up outside in the cold, which brought some of them to tears because of how freezing it was.
"I think they realised it was a mistake but didn't want to be a pushover, so left them there for over a minute before bringing them back in. We were informed at home time and CCTV showed what had happened."
Parents were shocked by the punishment, especially considering that their children had apparently been kept inside at playtime due to the freezing conditions.
The family member added: "I just feel disgusted by it and so do the other parents. Everyone is reluctant to send their kids back and we would like my nephew to move to another class.
A relative of two of the children said some of them were "brought to tears" (file photo) (Getty Images/EyeEm)"When parents are at work, they shouldn't have to worry about their children. They should be safe with teachers - I don't want the school to just brush this behaviour under the rug."
A spokesperson for The Constellation Trust, which works with the school, confirmed that some children were sent outside for a short period of time.
They said: "The school took the concerns of parents very seriously. Children in EYFS are encouraged to use the outside space throughout the year.
"A small number of children were asked to line up outside for a brief period. The school have apologised to the parents of the children involved."
The incident comes after a 12-year-old boy was left shivering after a secondary school confiscated his winter coat because it was not part of official uniform.
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Levon Bayle, had his thick coat taken from him amid freezing temperatures because it was not a Canterbury-branded jacket with the Jesmond Park Academyl's logo embroidered on the front, reported Chronicle Live.
His dad Aaron Bayley, from Newcastle, previously said the school had taken it away several times.
He added: “If you're a struggling family with more than one kid in the school you're looking at over £100 for a coat when you could go to a supermarket and probably buy them a coat for £20 which is a lot warmer.
“They really need to think about some of the policies they have because this is not the trousers, a jumper, or a blazer with the school emblem on, this is a coat.”
Steve Campbell, Jesmond Park Academy's principal, said the school is "always willing to engage in a dialogue" with parents and carers, but expects uniform requirements to be adhered to.