Latest news with #primaryschool
The Sun
11 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
I refuse to buy my kid new school shoes so colour them in with a Sharpie to last instead – trolls call me a cheapskate
A MOTHER has revealed that she is refusing to buy her child new school shoes for the rest of term as she has come up with a handy hack to keep her current pair looking fresh. Samantha Potts, a savvy woman from the UK, explained that rather than constantly splashing the cash each term on new school shoes, she simply uses a Sharpie pen to colour in where the material has peeled off. 2 2 But Samantha's quick and easy trick has been met with a barrage of nasty abuse, with mean trolls accusing her of being a ' cheapskate '. Not only this, but other parents voiced their concern that Samantha's idea could set her young daughter, who is in primary school, up for "ridicule and bullying '. Posting online, Samantha gave her followers a close-up look at her daughter's black shoes, with half of the gloss peeled off. But with Samantha 'fed up of buying shoes ', she got a permanent marker to give the tired footwear a freshen up for the last term. Alongside her short clip, Samantha said: 'When it's the last term of the year at school and your kid has decided to peel off her shoes - you are now stood here colouring it in with a permanent marker because you don't want to buy any more shoes.' Samantha then asked: 'The question is, do I pull this bit off so it's the whole front of one shoe? Do I keep it on? Who knows?' Following this, she asked her followers: 'What will look better? I feel like at this stage it can't get any worse.' Showing off her daughter's coloured-in patent shoes, Samantha recognised: 'I know they look bad.' The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ samanthapotts05 just 15 hours ago, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 221,800 views. Not only this, but it's also amassed 3,324 likes, 735 comments and 296 shares. But trolls were stunned by Samantha's purse-friendly idea and many eagerly raced to the comments to voice their opinions. One person said: ' Shoe Zone £10. Go buy some cheapskate.' Another added: 'Never would I send my kid to school in shoes like that, regardless of it being last term or not.' A third commented: ' Asda do school shoes for £6, that works out at £1 a week!' One mother fumed: 'You can't let her walk around like that for six weeks, please buy her some shoes.' EXTRA HELP WITH SCHOOL UNIFORM COSTS IF you can't get targeted help from your council, you might have some other options available to you. In some areas, you can talk directly to your school, which might be able to offer you clothing. Or, you might be able to get cheap garments from low-budget shops or charity stores. Some charities offer help to families in need too. But bear in mind charities often have a limited amount of money to give and usually have specific criteria which must be met in order to get a grant. Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you. Meanwhile, you can always try approaching your nearest Citizens' Advice branch. If you don't know where your nearest Citizens' Advice branch is, you can find out by visiting If you're not eligible for a school uniform grant you might be able to get help through the Household Support Fund. Whilst another slammed: 'Or just buy your kids new shoes! Would you go out like that? No.. so why make your child?' At the same time, another fuming user wrote: 'I'll buy new shoes. This is not on. I get it times are hard but there has to be a pot for this stuff. 'I wouldn't dream of sending a child to school in those. Knowing how mean children can be, you're opening your child up to ridicule and bullying.' She is only in Year 1, most days her dresses are covered in pen or paint or her lunch from the day and she couldn't care less so I don't think a little permanent marker on her shoes is gonna bother her Samantha Potts But in response to the haters, Samantha later responded: 'Wow, didn't expect this to blow up as much as it did. 'Just to clear a few things up - she's got 31 days left. Nine of those are PE so she will be in trainers. 'Why would I teach my kid that intentionally ruining something gets rewarded? It's wasteful and the structural integrity of the shoes are still there, if they were broken I'd replace them. 'She is only in Year 1, most days her dresses are covered in pen or paint or her lunch from the day and she couldn't care less so I don't think a little permanent marker on her shoes is gonna bother her.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Are you going on a school residential trip?
If you are in your final term of primary school, you might be looking forward to some exciting moments. Perhaps an end-of-year party? A leavers' assembly? Collecting your leavers' hoodies? But many of you will also be packing your bags ready to go for a few days away with your classmates and teachers for a residential. If so, we want to hear all about are you going and what activities have you got planned? What are you most looking forward to on your residential trip?Let us know in the comments section below. What is a residential? A residential is like an extra long school trip where you stay overnight - usually at an activity centre or accommodation where large school groups can stay. It is an opportunity for children to spend a few nights away from home, take part in fun and challenging activities and develop new often take place outdoors and can include things like rock climbing, canoeing and hiking. Many young people look forward to their school residential trip, with others feeling a little nervous about being away from their parents for a few nights - perhaps for the first time. It is perfectly normal to feel uneasy ahead of your trip, but there are always adults to talk to if you need to chat. Did you go on your residential trip last year? If so, what advice would you have for those who are going this term? Let us know in the comments section below.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
School leavers 2025: Are you getting hoodies?
For many of you, there are only a few weeks left of the school year, which means only one thing - leavers hoodies! Yes, it's that time of year again where you are able to rep your school with pride and share the special last few weeks with your school friends before heading to secondary or senior school. Leavers' hoodies became popular around the mid-2000s and they are seen to be a big milestone for many young people heading on to new schools or colleges. They often feature first names of all school-leavers on the back and a school logo, and most importantly, are mega comfy. So are you and your school friends already wearing leavers hoodies or have you decided they aren't for you?Let us know in the comments below. Of course, there are many ways you can remember your school friends so let us hear your other suggestions too. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, school summer holidays begin even sooner so you may have already made plans for your end of term celebrations. So we want to know how you are marking the end of primary school life? Maybe your school has planned a fun party during the last few weeks of term, or perhaps a BBQ, special assembly or photo shoot to mark the last day?Let us know using the comments section below.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
‘Stay at home' warning issued to Brits over ‘incredibly infectious' virus that forced school to shut after outbreak
A 'STAY AT HOME' warning has been issued to Brits, after an infectious virus caused a school to shut down. Three children at a primary school in Hampshire were hospitalised after contracting the virus last week, with the school forced to partially close on Friday. 3 3 The children - along with four other pupils in the same class, who were not sick enough to go to hospital - had contracted norovirus, an "incredibly infectious virus" that can be spread for 48 hours after symptoms stop. Following the outbreak, at Compton All Saints Church of England Primary School, near Winchester, the Government has issued a 'stay at home' warning to anyone who has contracted the virus. The UK Health Security Agency said: "Norovirus is incredibly infectious, so if you're feeling unwell stay home for 48 hours after symptoms stop as you are still infectious during this time." The 120-pupil school revealed that he UKHSA had advised them to isolate the class with the outbreak from the rest of the school. However, since this was "logistically impossible", Compton All Saints was forced to close the class. The school was then subject to a deep clean, as the children broke up from school for the half term break. Cases of norovirus - which is known as the winter vomiting bug - are above average for this time of year. The last UKHSA report revealed that cases were more than double the five season average, with a total of 14,959 laboratory reports between March 31 and April 27, compared to the average of 6,446. What is norovirus? Norovirus is an incredibly contagious stomach bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as a high temperature, headaches, stomach ache and body aches. It spreads very easily between people, and symptoms strike within hours or days of infection. The virus is spread through being in close contact with someone with the illness, or touching infected surfaces and then touching your mouth. What are the norovirus symptoms and how long does the winter vomiting bug last? It can also spread through eating food that has been handled by someone who has norovirus, or drinking unclean water. When you have norovirus, you shed billions of tiny particles, that can only be seen with a mircoscope. It takes just a few norovirus particles to make people infected and sick. Norovirus: Key symptoms + how to protect yourself The main symptoms or norovirus, according to the NHS, are: Feeling sick (nausea) Diarrhoea Being sick (vomiting) You may also have: A high temperature A headache Aching arms and legs You can usually treat norovirus at home - the most important thing to do is rest and have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. As norovirus is easily spread it's important to do what you can to prevent catching it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends four things you can do to protect yourself. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially: After using the toilet or changing nappies Before eating, preparing, or handling food Before giving yourself or someone else medicine It's important to be aware hand sanitisers don't always work well against norovirus. You can use them in addition to hand washing, but it shouldn't be a substitution. Before preparing and eating your food the CDC recommends the following: Carefully wash fruits and vegetables well Cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 63°C Routinely clean and sanitise kitchen utensils, cutting boards, counters, and surfaces, especially after handling shellfish Keep raw oysters away from ready-to-eat food in your shopping basket, refrigerator, and on cutting boards Throw away food that might contain norovirus Noroviruses are relatively resistant to heat and can survive temperatures as high as 63°C. Quick steaming processes will not heat foods enough to kill noroviruses. And be aware food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, or taste normal. After someone with norovirus vomits and has diarrhoea you should: Wear rubber or disposable gloves and wipe the entire area with paper towels and throw them in a plastic trash bag Disinfect the area as directed on the product label Leave bleach disinfectant on the affected area for at least five minutes Clean the entire area again with soap and hot water Wash laundry, take out the trash, and wash your hands An expert recently warned norovirus can spread via clothes. Immediately remove and wash clothes or linens that may have vomit or poo on them. When you do this: Wear rubber or disposable gloves Handle items carefully without shaking them Wash the items with detergent and hot water at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dry them at the highest heat setting Wash your hands after with soap and water Because of this, the bug can spread rapidly through hospitals, making patients, staff and visitors ill. The NHS advise for people who have contracted the virus is: "Stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least two days. "This is when you're most infectious. "Do not visit hospitals or care homes during this time." Most people start to recover from the virus in two to three days. However, in some cases, it can linger for weeks or even months. Brits are advised to call 111 if vomiting hasn't stopped after two days, or diarrhoea hasn't stopped after seven days. 3
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Llansteffan school with just eight pupils appeals for more children
A school with just eight pupils is hoping to attract more children to help safeguard its at Ysgol Llansteffan in Carmarthen have dropped from just over 30 in 2016 to at the tiny primary school have produced a social media video to try and attract new council said there were a "range of challenges" facing the county's schools. Mared Lenny's four-year-old son attends the 41-year-old from Llansteffan said the video showcased what they do as a school."Llansteffan is a seaside village that has a glorious outdoor environment for children."The school emphasises the need for outdoor learning and the education focuses on nature and environment and we thought 'well the school is not closing, but we do need more children to join'."She added it was an opportunity for anyone who thought "I'd like my child to have the opportunity to have this sort of education"."They're on the beach, they're in the castle, they're in the forest."The video showcases what your child can expect when they come into the school. It's a small thing with trying to help keep this school open." Llansteffan is part of a school federation along with Bancyfelin and Llangain, with the schools sharing one governor Huw Iorwerth said the school had to attract more pupils in order to survive."At the moment there are eight pupils in the school. The school has had over 50 pupils in the past," he said."Eight is a very small number. That's why, as governors, we're looking at ways of making the very best use for the federation of this particular site. Mr Iorwerth said he had lived in the area for about 40 years and had seen "big changes"."I think the population is probably ageing. A lot of the houses are for rent for holidaymakers or are second homes."We are hopeful that there's a new estate being built with 12 new houses. We are hoping there will be children in that development that will come to the school."He added he was appealing for people who have young children to consider very carefully about sending their children there. Carmarthenshire council's cabinet member for education and Welsh language, Glynog Davies, said schools in the county were facing a "range of challenges" including a "reducing population, budget constraints and increasing demand for additional learning needs and other services".He added the cabinet had plans to transform school provision across Carmarthenshire."The aim is to transform the network of nursery, primary and secondary schools into a strategically and operationally effective resource that meets current and future need for a school based and community focused education." The Welsh government said there was a "presumption against the closure of rural schools" but it was up to local authorities to plan school places.A spokesperson said: "When proposing significant changes to schools, local authorities and other proposers must comply with the School Organisation Code."Ms Lenny said it was vital Llansteffan retained the school."I think a school in a village is extremely important. Children are a part of the community."
