Pupils ‘wrapped in cotton wool’

SCHOOLS were accused yesterday of wrapping up pupils in cotton wool.

Amanda Spielman, the head of Ofsted, warned children were being denied the chance to develop ‘resilience and grit’ because of ‘barmy’ health and safety policies.

‘No one is suggesting ignoring fire safety or background checks on staff,’ she said. ‘But over the years an overcautious culture has developed in our schools, one that too often tries to wrap children in cotton wool. It is, I am sad to say, a culture that deprives children of rewarding experiences.’

Mrs Spielman said it was undoubtedly a ‘major factor’ in the growth of childhood inactivity, because children were denied vigorous exercise.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said her message to schools was to make sure they ‘distinguish between real and imagined risk’.

She cited the example of a primary school that cancelled its sports day because of ‘dew on the grass’.