to expect a letter of consent for a school trip or at least inform me it's taking place at all?

[pizzamad]

My year five child is in the choir and he told me that he is going to another school today. Its just over two miles away. He was vague with the details about what they are doing there or anything about it at all. I said wheres the letter. He said we weren't given a letter just told that we are going. I said is not right because I need to give consent. He said i don't need to give consent because it's local. I said no there should be a letter at least informing me. He said well I'm telling you now. Anyway after my ds class assembly a ta said come on you need to go and get ready you'll be leaving soon. I then said to her is it true ds is going to X school this morning. Yes she said. But I didn't get a letter i said. Oh that's right no letter was sent out. It's not needed because it's a local trip. That's fine don't want worry about it she said. I was shocked! I would've given my consent no problem but I am wrong to think parents should at least be informed?

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TalkPrimary education

Is it unreasonable to expect a letter of consent for a school trip.1

Today 11:02pizzamad

Or at least inform me it's taking place at all? My year five child is in the choir and he told me that he is going to another school today. Its just over two miles away. He was vague with the details about what they are doing there or anything about it at all. I said wheres the letter. He said we weren't given a letter just told that we are going. I said is not right because I need to give consent. He said i don't need to give consent because it's local. I said no there should be a letter at least informing me. He said well I'm telling you now. Anyway after my ds class assembly a ta said come on you need to go and get ready you'll be leaving soon. I then said to her is it true ds is going to X school this morning. Yes she said. But I didn't get a letter i said. Oh that's right no letter was sent out. It's not needed because it's a local trip. That's fine don't want worry about it she said. I was shocked! I would've given my consent no problem but I am wrong to think parents should at least be informed?

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[DailyFaily]

We are asked to sign consent forms for local visits (trips to beach/park etc). Personally I think it's a bit overkill to have to sign every time but I'd still expect to be, at least, informed that my child would be off the premises.

[NatashaRomanov]

Even if you have signed a cover-all permission for local trips, you should at least be informed that one is taking place.

What if you had an emergency and needed to collect your child? Or had made a medical appointment for your child at the samended time because you didn't know about the trip?

Rather poor communication from the school.

[ceebie]

I've signed a consent form saying they can go on walking school trips without informing me. They need to inform me if they're going on a trip involving transport.

Check the school's policies, they should be clear on this matter.

[Osolea]

You will probably have given generic consent for things like this when your child enrolled, but if you didn't then there's a big problem!

It's normal practice not to get consent for every little thing out of the school grounds that happens, and it's good that it's that way, but I do think parents should be informed if their child isn't going to be at school.

[AgeOfEarthquakes]

Are you sure you didn't give blanket permission for local trips when he started school? My DCs school does this so they don't have to ask permission every time they take them to the park round the corner for example.

Talk the school office and ask them to clarify if you're concerned.

[pizzamad]

I've signed a consent form for local trips. For example the local woods and sports at the local senior school which is very nearby. However we have always had letters informing us and also I think this stretches my idea of local.

[TeenAndTween]

We don't have to give consent for walking trips (covered by a blanket consent letter when they start).
However we are (usually) informed by letter (except when they took y6 to the park after SATs).

Are they walking or going on other transport?

[eyebrowse]

I am fed up of filling in consent forms! I have written our GP address and contact details so many times when the school must have this info computerised...

It would be good to get the info they were going just in case there was some sort of issue

[ceebie]

Well then ask the school to clarify their definition of local. Think about what sort of trips you don't mind being covered by a blanket form at the beginning of the year, and what sort of trips you would want individual consent forms for, and ask whether it would be possible to amend your permissions accordingly.

It would be a pain for the school to have one rule for you and another for everyone else, but you should at least make them aware of your wishes and see what they can accommodate. They might review their policy, or at least clarify it.

[smokeybandit]

We usually sign one at the beginning 9very school year or term saying we consent to small local trips in school time, from the sound of it this would be covered by our one and your son telling you is informing you. It would be reasonable for them to just let you know as a curtesy but if it's not in yours school policy maybe you could ask them to review