Parents have praised a school for keeping "business as usual" amid the soaring temperatures. A string of schools across Nottinghamshire previously made the call to close on Monday and Tuesday, July 18 and 19 respectively, because of the hot weather.
It comes after the Met Office issued an extremely rare red weather warning for extreme heat, the first time this has happened in history, with temperatures predicted to top 37C on Monday alone. The Mellers Primary School and Nursery in Radford, however, has remained open.
Some children were excited to attend school with so-called "splashes" having been scheduled for the day to keep them cool. Nottinghamshire Live visited the school on Norton Street on Monday. Caroline Smith, a mum of two, was taking her children to school in the morning and said: "I think it should be up to the parents whether they want to send their children to school or not.
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"Mine could not wait to go to school after the weekend. My little one was excited for the splash day." The 33-year-old, who works in Boots, added: "They spend the morning outside and then they go inside to cool off. The teachers are very careful, they are trying to protect them.
"I think it is important for our children to live a normal life and go to school, especially after the pandemic. Especially because they are having a relaxed day today, they are not going to do maths or anything like that, they are going to play."
Arif Sulistiono, originally from Indonesia and now living in Radford, added: "I am from Indonesia so we are used to the heat, it actually reminds us of home.
"Although it is more humid over there, it is better here because it is dry at least. My children relaxed over the weekend and they really wanted to come in to school today."
The 38-year-old added: "I think it is better for the children that they are in school, especially after the pandemic. As parents we are grateful that we can just go to work."
Kwame Agyemang was waiting patiently, avoiding the heat in the shadow of a tree near the school gates and said: "I prefer sweating in a heatwave than freezing to be fair. Our children are happy to go to school."
The 37-year-old taxi driver said he had to switch to night shifts because of the heat. He added: "It is better for them to be in school."
Amanda Dawson, head of Mellers Primary School, was greeting the pupils at the school gates and said: "We have suggested that everyone stays hydrated and bring a hat as well. First they will spend some time in the garden, where there is a bit of shade as well.
"We have got air cons, and fans in every classroom. We have got rotas in place for everyone to use the library too, it would help both staff and our pupils.
"We have got ice pops, water, and water sprays in place to help pupils cool off. We are trying to keep business as usual and make it fun as well.
"We are a community school. And we think that our pupils should attend school and keep business as usual to help parents as well."
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