Parents Are Furious After School Forces Kids To Eat Outside ‘Regardless Of The Weather’

A British school has infuriated parents after insisting that students eat their lunch outside “regardless of the weather.” As part of its COVID-19 social distancing plan, Lode Heath School in Solihull, Birmingham informed parents that no indoor dining wold be permitted, even if it was raining and even throughout the colder months, and that all 1,500 students at the school would need to go outdoors for their meals, BirminghamLive reports.

1. The parents were told to make sure students brought a raincoat. In an effort to prepare students for the inclement weather, parents were advised to make sure their children had an “appropriate raincoat/jacket” for eating outdoors. A memo read: “Due to Government guidelines, Lode Heath School is unable to offer indoor facilities/spaces for pupils to use during break times and lunchtimes. An appropriate raincoat/jacket is advised, particularly as we are now experiencing a period of inclement weather.” Well, that’s a bit rude!
2. All the responsibility for keeping kids comfortable outdoors is falling on parents. Despite the fact that kids are in school all day long in classrooms with other students, the school doesn’t believe they should be able to stay inside for meals. While they might not like it, the school believes parents should make sure their children are prepared for going outside every day. “Pupils will be outside for break times and lunch times regardless of the weather, so we would appreciate parental/guardian support in ensuring pupils are suitably prepared for any periods of bad weather as we enter the autumn and winter months,” the memo continued.
3. Parents were incensed when they received the email from the school. A woman whose 14-year-old daughter attends the school admitted she was absolutely shocked, not to mention disgusted when she found out the school’s plans. “The majority of parents are outraged by it – I kept re-reading the email, not believing my eyes. So even if it’s freezing cold or pouring with rain, our children have got to sit outside to eat their lunch?” she told BirminghamLive. “It’s a massive school with a big sports hall, dining hall and lots of classrooms.  Can’t they organise a rota system so that every year group gets half an hour to sit indoors and eat their food? They sit together in class, so why not in the dining room to eat their lunch?”
4. Many kids are refusing to eat at all due to the restrictions. According to the mom, while there is a single shelter available outdoors, it’s not enough for all students to sit under and because of how uncomfortable the new arrangements are, many students are simply opting not to eat. “I’ve heard some children are either not eating at all, or going into the toilets and sitting in there to eat,” she continued. “It’s all very well saying ‘put on a raincoat’, but how do you balance holding an umbrella with eating your food?  And because some of the lockers aren’t in use, they’ll also have to lug their bags everywhere with them too.”
5. The school has upheld its decision to keep the kids outside. In response to the complaints the school received, associate headteacher Laura Suddon issued a statement insisting that the move was for the kids’ own safety and that there should be enough room outdoors for students to eat, especially given the staggered break times.