A ROW has broken out between parents and staff at a Swansea school after children were prevented from going paddling on a beach trip on one of the hottest days of the year, allegedly due to "health and safety".
Pupils at Hendrefolian Primary School in Killay arrived at the Gower spot on Monday to be told they had to stick to the beach and the sea was out of bounds, according to a parent.
The parent, who did not want to be named, said youngsters, some in their last weeks of primary school, were left disappointed by the decision, especially after having been allowed to go into the sea in previous years. This claim was backed up by another parent, who also wished to remain anonymous.
But the claims have been disputed by the school and some other parents.
A spokesman for the school said the claims were untrue, and that the beach day did not include a swim, while three other parents said a dip in the water had never been part of the trip.
The incident follows one last week at Pennard Primary when a sports day for young children was postponed because of dew on the grass. The Hendrefoilan parent who initially contact the Post said she was shocked her daughter was not allowed to go into the sea on such a hot day.
"My daughter said they were told on the day they could not go in the sea due to health and safety," she said.
"But every previous beach day she had been allowed to at least paddle. The teachers would take the children down in groups so not all the pupils were in the water at once. What is the problem?
"These kids live by the sea, they go in it regularly, surely they can be safely supervised while they at least dip their toes in. It was a boiling hot day and these children had no means to cool off.
A spokesman for the school said: "These claims are completely untrue. The children's day at the beach doesn't include a swim in the sea because is all about exploring the plants and small sea creatures in rock pools and having games on the beach." Justine Jones, who has sent two of her children on the trip in the past, said: "I have two sons at the school and it's never been the case they go in the sea."
Ellen Parker-Jones, who took her eldest daughter on the trip, said there never was a plan for the children to go swimming.
"I think whoever has complained is being unfair, to be honest."
Korine Colborne, who took her daughter, said: "I've been two or three times with my children and it's never been a swimming trip."
