Primary School PE Changng Room Arrangements

kazmc

Hi all

Just after finding out if anyone else knows what the arrangements are in primary schools re getting ready for PE.
My DD is 10 and in year 5. All the children, boys and girls, have to get changed in front of each other for PE in the classroom.
Is this normal practice for year 5 children??
My DD has boobs (albeit small ones at the moment!!) and has started her monthlys so is embarrassed to have to change in front of the boys but she doesnt want me to say anything to the school...
Anyone else know the protocol and am I making an issue out of it if I approcah the school on the matter??
Many thanks everyone:)

snozberry

I'm afraid to say that it is very normal. They just don't have purpose built changing areas like secondary schools.

Just have a quiet word with her teacher explaining your concern - just like I am presuming you did when she started. Maybe the class teacher could ask the girls to get changed in the loos (which isn't ideal I know)

Desperado99

My DD is 10 (year 6) and for they have a separate changing room for the girls which she has used since year 5.

I don't think a quiet word to the teacher would hurt, your DD doesn't need to know that it's been mentioned.

Kaz2904

My DD is also in year 5 and IIRC, still has to change with the boys. This culminates with all the girls wanting to wear crop tops by the end of year 4 regardless of whether or not they have anything to put in them. I decided to let DD as it's hard enough dealing with your body changing, let alone everyone else in your class seeing it all the time.

kit77

My DD is the same age. In her school we must be lucky because they have set changing rooms.

I wouldn't think at this age its right that they get changed in the same room. As you say girls at this age are developing and I know my DD would be mortified at getting changed in front of her boy classmates.

I agree a word with the teacher would be the way forward.

peachyprice

In DD's school they have a yr 5/6 class and a yr 6 class that do PE at the same time, at changing time all the boys go into one classroom, all the girls go into the other. It's only these two classes that do this, the straight yr 5 class still does mixed changing.

Lunar_Eclipse

Mine had mixed classroom changing from R-Y2.

From Y3, they change separately. There are boys' & girls' changing rooms, but when they aren't able to use these (for school plays for instance) they still change in separate rooms.

I don't think it's appropriate for girls and boys to be changing in the same room at that age. DD1 started developing breast buds in Y2 and was embarrassed with mixed changing at the age of 6, nearly 7. She also didn't want me to mention it to her teacher and because of her young age, I didn't. I think a 10 year old clearly advanced in puberty is different though. I would have a quite word with the teacher, without mentioning it to your daughter. I'd also find out if there are any regulations covering this area.

claire16c

When I was in yr 5 and 6 we had changing rooms. A couple of girls wore proper bras then, there is no way you could have expected them to get changed infront of the boys. Was embarassing enough infront of the girls i would imagine as they were the only ones. And that was 17 years ago, when we wore vest and pants in yrs -1-4 so Im suprised schools dont all have changing rooms for yrs 5 and 6 now. Or atleast just change in seperate classrooms?

Mandles

As others have said, i would have a quiet word with teacher. Also to make it not such a big deal, just an idea, if they wear t-shirts, maybe she could go in on PE days wearing her t-shirt under her shirt so that she does not have to worry about getting changed and then maybe nip to the loo after PE and change her top there .

May be more washing but easier and less fuss for her.

Mupette

It's now we have issues, which was never there when we were all kids, our little girls (i don't have one) are maturing earlier, getting boobs, starting their periods etc, back in the 80's very rare for a girl to start so soon. (i think)

But the primary schools have not moved with the changing times. Something does need to be considered, when ds was in primary school (he is practically 17) some of his female classmates had boobs bless em.

QuackQuackOops

kazmc wrote: »

Hi all

Just after finding out if anyone else knows what the arrangements are in primary schools re getting ready for PE.
My DD is 10 and in year 5. All the children, boys and girls, have to get changed in front of each other for PE in the classroom.
Is this normal practice for year 5 children??
My DD has boobs (albeit small ones at the moment!!) and has started her monthlys so is embarrassed to have to change in front of the boys but she doesnt want me to say anything to the school...
Anyone else know the protocol and am I making an issue out of it if I approcah the school on the matter??
Many thanks everyone:)

Simple really isnt it?
Make sure your DD is wearing a vest.