A school has said sorry after young pupils were punished for chatting by being mader to stand outside in icy temperatures without coats or jumpers. The three and four-year-olds were dressed for indoors when they were ordered outside and told to line up outside the the building.
Family members blasted the punishment meted out to some pupils in a reception class at Francis Askew Primary School, in North Road, Hull as "disgusting". They claimed some children were even left in tears because of how cold it was as they stood outside.
The family members told Hull Live of the incident which happened on Tuesday, January 17. They said the penalty was issued after a class lined up inside the school, ready to learn phonics, when a small number of children were chatting.
However when they continued to talk after being told to be quiet, a teacher told them to line up outside. While the punishment only lasted a short time, some the children had returne home in tears that night, the family members claimed.
One family member of two of the children said: "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 at the penalty and say their children had been kept inside at playtime because of how cold it was. The family member continued: "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.
"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 Francis Askew Primary School is part of, 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."
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