Update for Friday 10th July

Crofton Open As Normal

Dear Parents and Carers,

It's been another very warm week at school. Whilst staff and students are certainly feeling the heat, we are monitoring official forecasts closely and the Met Office does not currently have any weather warnings in place for our area.

With that in mind, school will be open as normal, with students following their normal timetable due to the postponement of Sports Day that I wrote home about.

As we navigate these conditions together, we want to make sure that our young people feel as supported and comfortable as possible, and it is clear that a few simple habits can make a huge difference in keeping them well throughout the day.

To help us look after them, please could you take a moment to review these practical tips with your child:

• Water Bottles (Essential): We still have a significant number of students arriving to school without a water bottle. Many who visit our medical room with early signs of heat exhaustion could easily avoid feeling unwell simply by taking small, regular sips of water throughout the day.

• Frozen Drinks & Electrolytes: A fantastic idea from some of our families is freezing a bottle of water overnight—as it melts during the day, it keeps their drink lovely and cold for much longer. Additionally, students who perspire heavily can lose essential salts; while an age appropriate electrolyte drink or powder supplement isn't necessary in most cases, it can certainly be helpful for some.

• Uniform Flexibility: Our relaxed uniform options remain in place so students can choose what feels best for them in the heat.

• Handheld/Neck Fans: Students are very welcome to bring small, battery-operated or handheld personal fans to help them keep cool. Please note that we can't accommodate personal plug-in fans, and students will need to look after their own devices as we can't take responsibility for lost or damaged items.

• Shade & Cooler Spaces: The best way to prevent overheating is to take things a little easier and stay out of the direct sun, particularly at lunchtime. Our Main Hall and Sports Hall offer much cooler, shaded environments for students to relax in.

• Classroom Changes: Teachers are adjusting their lessons to account for the weather and may occasionally move classes to cooler rooms on the day, so students should just keep an eye out for any room changes.

We will have extra staffing in our medical room to care for anyone who feels under the weather. However, many of the students who came to see us today, often with preventable symptoms like heat headaches, simply wouldn't have needed to if these basic steps had been taken. Encouraging them to follow this advice will give them the best possible chance of staying comfortable throughout the day.

Finally, we all know that heat can make anyone, and teenagers in particular! a little bit grumpy at times. A little bit of extra patience, empathy, and kindness towards one another goes a long way on days like these.

As forecasts suggest these warmer spells will continue to be a feature of UK summers, learning to manage the heat together as a community is so important. Thank you, as always, for your partnership, care, and continued support.

With kind regards,

Mark Palmer