Latest news with #schools
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
When is it too hot for a child to be at school?
The UK has recorded the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures predicted to hit 34C this weekend. It's common to feel lethargic and uncomfortable in hot weather, which makes focusing difficult for adults and children alike. Many schools, like some workplaces, don't have air conditioning and combined with restrictive school uniforms, it can make learning an uncomfortable experience. But is there a hard and fast rule on when it's too hot for schools to open – or a legal temperature? And what steps do schools have to take to keep children safe in the heat? Here's what you need to know. In short, no. There's no legal maximum temperature for schools to operate in the UK, meaning they don't have to close during a heatwave. The government's position is to keep schools open where possible. "During hot weather, we don't normally advise schools to close," the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says. "School attendance is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential, and hot weather can usually be managed safely." However, headteachers and school staff can take action to keep pupils as comfortable and safe as possible. This could mean relaxing certain rules or changing the schedule for the day. UKHSA guidance on how schools should manage hot weather and heatwaves, says they should consider relaxing their school uniform policy. This means encouraging children to remove blazers, jumpers and any unnecessary layers. They might also suggest pupils wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing to help keep them cooler. The guidance also advises children wear sun hats with wide brims for outdoor play. Sunscreen should be used regularly, and children should be encouraged to spend time in the shade if they're outdoors. As tempting as it is to let children run off their energy during playtime, vigorous physical activity should be avoided on very hot days, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). This includes PE lessons and outdoor sports. Instead, teachers are advised to adapt lessons for more sedentary indoor activities. These should take place in the coolest parts of the school building where possible. While most UK schools don't have air conditioning, there are still ways to keep classrooms cooler. Windows should be opened early in the morning or overnight (if safe to do so) to let stored heat escape before the day heats up. Once the outside air is warmer than the air inside, windows should be closed and blinds drawn to keep the sun out, but not at the expense of airflow. Cross-ventilation through doors and windows is encouraged when it can be done safely. Schools are also advised to limit the use of electrical equipment, as lights and devices left on standby give off extra heat. Fans can be used to move air around the room, but only if the temperature is below 35°C. Above that, fans may worsen dehydration. Children should be encouraged to drink more water than usual, with staff reminding pupils to take regular sips throughout the day. Children are more vulnerable to heat-related illness than adults, and teachers and staff should be watching for symptoms of heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Early signs might include a change in behaviour, discomfort, tiredness, or irritability. Children in nappies may show signs of dehydration through fewer wet nappies or darker urine. More serious signs of heat exhaustion include: dizziness headache nausea or vomiting pale, clammy skin excessive sweating confusion or fatigue If a child is affected, they should be moved to a cool area, encouraged to drink water, and cooled down using damp cloths, fans, or cold packs placed around the neck and armpits. If symptoms don't improve or worsen, call NHS 111 for advice. Heatstroke is a medical emergency and requires urgent attention. Technically, parents must send their child to school unless they're ill or the school authorises the absence. Unfortunately, simply blaming the heat isn't usually enough. Any absence without proper authorisation counts as an unauthorised absence, which can trigger a penalty notice if your child misses too much school – currently fines are up to £80 per parent (which will increase to £160 if not paid within 21 days) if issued by the local authority. That said, schools can potentially exercise flexibility on hot days, like offering remote learning, moving classes to cooler spaces, or allowing early pick‑ups. The main thing is that parents communicate with the school. If heat is genuinely affecting your child, the best move is to contact the school directly and explain the situation. It's natural to feel concerned about your child's safety in school during hot weather. The government encourages teachers and childcare providers to sign up for Weather-Health Alerts from the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, which can help schools plan ahead. But day-to-day, it's up to schools to use their judgement. That might mean adjusting uniforms, tweaking lesson plans, or simply giving children more time indoors to cool down. If you're ever in doubt, reach out to your school and ask what measures they've put in place. Read more about education: Should schools relax school uniform rules during hot weather? (Birmingham Live, 2-min read) This Heatwave Hack For The School Pick Up Is Saving Parents A 'Fortune' (HuffPost, 2-min read) Sainsbury's launches flash school uniform sale, with prices from just £2.40 (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bradford Council teaches children on city's pollution risks
Children in Bradford have been celebrating on Clean Air Day as the council attempts to reduce the risk posed to young people by vehicle emissions. Bradford Council hosted pupils from 13 schools to learn about air quality, the environment and how air pollution affects researchers found that GP visits for lung health in Bradford had reduced by 25% since the city's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) was implemented in September council said children growing up in urban areas were particularly at-risk and that pollutants traced to vehicles could lead to respiratory infections, decreased lung function, heart problems, and can worsen symptoms of asthma. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Ministers set out plans to spend £725bn on UK infrastructure over 10 years
Ministers have pledged to spend £9bn a year on fixing crumbling schools, hospitals, courts and prisons over the next decade as part of the government's infrastructure strategy. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, set out plans on Thursday to spend a minimum of £725bn over 10 years to boost UK-wide infrastructure and achieve a 'national renewal'. Jones announced that £6bn a year would go to repairing hospitals in England, £3bn to fixing and upgrading schools and colleges in England and £600m to courts and prisons in England and Wales. The money will fund building improvements including removing crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in hospitals and strengthening safety and security in prisons. Jones told MPs: 'Done properly it will result in tangible improvements to the fabric of our country, our local roads and high streets renewed so communities are even better places to live.' The strategy also includes £1bn to fix roads, bridges and flyovers across the UK and £590m to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing project. Some £16bn will go towards building 500,000 new homes through a new publicly owned National Housing Bank. Richard Fuller, the Conservative shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, urged ministers to set out which major projects are being abandoned and explain why. Business and industry groups, who have long argued the need for a long-term vision to provide certainty and encourage investment, broadly welcomed the strategy – although the government portal of actual projects will not now be launched online for another month. This project 'pipeline' will be updated every six months. Alex Vaughan, the CEO of construction and engineering firm Costain, said the launch was 'a crucial step towards ending the short-termism that has held our sector back'. The Railway Industry Association chief executive, Darren Caplan, said a 10-year strategy and the commitment to publish a pipeline in July was extremely welcome, adding: 'We look forward to seeing the full details of the pipeline, which will need to give businesses sufficient clarity to plan ahead.' Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: 'A government operating within the spending rules it has set for itself demonstrates real commitment – one that can unlock private investment and finance, which will take confidence from this stability.' John Dickie, chief executive at BusinessLDN, said it showed welcome government recognition 'that Britain needs a clear, committed, long-term pipeline of future public investment to give the private sector the confidence to invest'. Sam Gould, director of policy at the Institution of Civil Engineer, said it was 'a significant moment' with lots of positives, but added: 'The sector will need more information on private finance models, and on how [it] will meet the demands of our changing climate.' The strategy does not cover so-called megaprojects, which cost more than £10bn and take more than 10 years to deliver. These include the HS2 railway, Sizewell C nuclear plant and the Dreadnought submarine programme.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sharing deepfake pornography 'the next sexual violence epidemic facing schools'
Sharing deepfake pornography is "the next sexual violence epidemic" facing schools, the author of a book on the spread of online misogyny has told MPs. Appearing before the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), Laura Bates said there needs to be statutory guidance for teachers on how to deal with this "very significant issue". She said in every UK case she has investigated, schools have "paid thousands of pounds hiring PR firms to focus on damage reputation management". However, in terms of supporting girls and taking action against the perpetrators, "nothing has happened". She said of deepfake pornography: "It is happening, it's significant. Female teachers are affected, which often goes unnoticed, and schools are just not equipped to tackle it. "My suggestion would be this is the next big sexual violence epidemic facing schools and people don't even know it is going on." Deepfakes are pictures, videos or audio clips made with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to look or sound real. While it is illegal to create or share a sexually explicit image of a child, including a deepfake, the technology for making them remains legal. Asked what more could be done to help schools tackle the issue, Ms Bates said in the cases she is aware of "police investigations are ongoing" . However, she said she is not suggesting criminalisation of underage boys is the solution and what is needed is education, prevention and regulation. "It shouldn't be the case that a 12-year-old boy can easily and freely access tools to create these forms of content in the first place," she said. Ms Bates is the founder of the Everyday Sexism project and author of: The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny. She also called for "very clear guidance" on how schools should respond to this challenge. She warned of a repeat of failings that have happened previously with intimate image abuse, where girls have been "coerced into sending images of themselves" then punished for taking the image once it has been shared around - but the person spreading the image has not. Calls to ban 'nudifying apps' A government spokesperson told Sky News: "We are reviewing the relationships, sex and health curriculum to look at all modern-day challenges facing children, including that of deepfake porn, and work to ensure children are taught how to build positive, healthy relationships in an age-appropriate way." It comes amid mounting concern among MPs and experts , with many wanting the government to go further with its regulations on big tech firms. Read More: In April, a report by the Children's Commissioner for England found that nudifying apps are disproportionately targeting girls and young women, with many appearing to work only on female bodies. The commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, called for an immediate ban on apps that use AI to create naked images of children, saying "there is no positive reason for these to exist". Inquiry into the 'manosphere' Ms Bates appeared in front of the WEC as part of their inquiry into how the "manosphere" and other online content is fuelling misogyny. The cross-party group has previously heard how the rise of misogyny in young men in particular is not only affecting female pupils but also female staff, with sexual harassment towards teachers described as "rife". On Wednesday's session, the committee also heard concerns around the rise of the "sex tech industry", including robots and AI girlfriends, with fears this is having a wider impact on attitudes towards women and girls. Sarah Owen, the Labour chair of the WEC, told Sky News she could not pre-empt what recommendations would be made to the government. But she said there was huge concern around the online radicalisation of young men, adding: "It was a boiling hot room but my blood ran cold at what I was hearing."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Welsh government urged to improve air quality
The Welsh government needs to set more ambitious targets for improving air quality in order to tackle pollution around schools, according to comes as research from Friends of the Earth Cymru suggests more than 200 schools in Wales may be situated in areas where chemicals in the air exceed World Health Organisation (WHO) thirds of those schools were in Cardiff, but the council has urged caution and said individual measurements at some locations showed lower levels of pollutants in Welsh government said it will soon start consulting on promoting awareness of its air pollution delivery plan. Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth Cymru has analysed figures from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which suggested nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5) is too high for 65,000 Welsh on the eco committee at Roath Park Primary School in Cardiff said they did what they could to encourage their friends and parents to reduce car use to help the 11, said she was concerned air pollution would affect herself and her friends with asthma as "children's bodies are still growing"."They can get ill and it can affect their bodies and get into their bloodstream which can seriously damage their lungs," she said. Fatima, 11, said she encouraged her parents and friends to find environmentally friendly ways of getting around."I usually tell my parents off for driving the car too much, and ask them to walk to school instead of drive. "I live a bit far - but it's not too far so I just walk."Seren, 11, said she and her fellow committee members were growing plants to try and improve air quality."It would be better if we could all do something like plant more plants or make more cars on the road electric so they don't produce the fumes that go into the atmosphere," she said. Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Haf Elgar, said she wanted everyone to take action to reduce air pollution."This data proves that we've got a real crisis in air pollution in Wales, particularly in our cities in terms of what we've measured here," she said. "The list of 200 schools makes it obvious that we need to do more. The government has a duty as well as the local authorities and us as individuals. There's a responsibility on everyone."New legislation was passed last year to clean up the air in Wales, but Ms Elgar said that should be just the start of the process."We now need to set targets in legislation so that everyone knows what we're aiming for," she said."That we've got ambition to reduce our air pollution and that leads to action across all government departments." Cardiff council said all monitoring locations in the city currently meet existing legal air quality objectives and all schools monitored by the local authority recorded concentrations "significantly less" than the Friends of the Earth Cymru research. The local authority added it welcomed the report as "Cardiff is very much aware of the health concerns from poor air quality and its potential impact on our children". A spokesperson for the council added: "It should be noted that the WHO guideline values are based solely based on scientific conclusions about public health aspects of air pollution. "The guidelines do not take into consideration the technical feasibility or the economic and social aspects of achieving these levels." Joseph Carter from Healthy Air Cymru, a coalition of partner organisations in Wales working to improve air quality, said air pollution was linked to asthma in children, with a growing number of people living with the condition in Wales. "Air pollution is a terrifying thing. The more time goes on, the more we learn about what it could cause," he said. Mr Carter said individuals and organisations needed to make real changes and called for legislation to prevent cars idling while waiting at the side of the road."We need to think about how we work, how we live and what society looks like here in Wales," he said. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said there was "no safe level" of air pollution and is calling on the Welsh government to take urgent Hilary Williams, vice-president for Wales at the RCP, said: "The number of preventable deaths attributable to poor air quality makes clear that this is a public health crisis that cannot be ignored. "For people living with asthma, poor air quality directly affects their risk of hospital admission and impacts everyday activities, and we're learning more how it contributes to other conditions including dementia, heart disease and cancers. "Clean air is a right, not a privilege and improving air quality must be treated as a core public health priority." The Welsh government said it was providing funding to local authorities to improve air quality through its Local Air Quality Management Support Fund."This year, the fund will provide £1m to support a range of activity across the country, including initiatives at schools," they said. "This summer we will consult on our Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan, which has been developed in partnership with stakeholders. Through the plan we will support national communication campaigns, educational resources, and guidance, enabling positive change and ensuring people have the information they need to take action."Raising awareness of air pollution issues with children and young people has been a key consideration in the development of our draft plan."
