Residential trip in Y1

[Ginmummy1]

At DD's school they have a 2-night residential trip in the summer term of Y1 (Y1s and Y2s together). I don't know of any other school locally that starts so young.

I have no qualms about DD going and she's looking forward to it, but I wondered how common it was to offer this to Y1 children?

[user789653241]

My ds' school only starts from Yr3.
But I had residential trip in kindergarten when I was a child in different country.(around 5 years old, so yr1 age.)

[CaulkheadNorth]

Our school does, but it's a first school with joint years - yr 1 and 2 go away and then yr 3 and 4 do. I think yr 4 get an extra one too before they leave.

[GreatWhites]

I've never heard of taking such young children away. I really wouldn't like either to send my DD or to take my class.

[bojorojo]

Both of mine went in Y2. Both summer born. They loved it. The delicate ones didn't go but the vast majority did. We had a rota of parents to help out as it was only 15 miles away! It was fantastic and you will be surprised what young children can get out of this experience. If your child is interested, why not?

[sniffle12]

Seems quite young, but I went on brownie camps from age 7 onwards and loved them.

But I can't think why the teachers have let themselves in for that! In a group of what, at least 60 5-7 year olds, there's got to be at least a fair few who are going to be homesick/actually sick/otherwise upset for whatever reason. Sounds intense!

[NennyNooNoo]

I've not heard of them doing that in the UK, but when I went to a Canadian school, the whole school (grades 1-8, so aged 5-13) went on a week's residential ski trip. I look back now and think how adventurous it was!

[SisterMoonshine]

That sounds above and beyond for the teachers.

[bojorojo]

Yes, but I would not expect it to be just staffed by teachers. Our year group was split into two separate weeks with a constant parent rota. The teachers wouldn't do it if it was impossible.

Also, the ones who will struggle just will not go. If your child is confident and able to follow instructions then they will love it. If they need constant reassurance from a parent, cannot get dressed, or just haven't ever been away from home before, then it is probably not a good idea.

[LockedOutOfMN]

At our school they go in y2 which is typical in Spain. They are younger than British year 2s on average by 4 months as our school year runs January to December. Our two children both went at that age but it was rather expensive (I'm sure the price was reasonable for the activities offered and staff numbers) so after that they did alternate/cheaper residentials.

[GreatWhites]

Also, the ones who will struggle just will not go

Schools cannot rely on this happening any more, especially for children with diagnoses.

I'm a bit shaky on the idea of taking parents. I presume they'd need private rooms.

I wouldn't be taking that trip anyway.

[Ginmummy1]

There has been no request for parent volunteers. It's at a council-run outdoor learning centre, and I think the activities are run by the venue staff, with school staff on hand but no parents. I may be wrong!

Priority goes to Y2 children and there are only 40 places. From playground chat, it seems to be as Bojorojo describes: the only Y1s that want to go (and whose parents are happy for them to go) are the confident ones with good self-care skills. They all get another chance to go next year.

[nat73]

TBH I wouldn't be keen. We haven't done a sleep over yet. Some of DS1's friends (Year 2) have had sleepovers that have ended in disaster with phonecalls to parents to pick up their kids at 1am so I've no idea why teachers would want to bring the hassle upon themselves. What is it with this obsession with residential trips? I think I was 13 before I went on a residential trip. I have now lived in 4 other countries so I dont think I have turned into a hermit or anything.

[LockedOutOfMN]

nat73 sniffle and others - I doubt the teachers are the ones jumping up and down and insisting that the trip take place...I'm yet to meet a teacher who doesn't enjoy going home after school to shower in their own shower and sleep in their own bed. The person making the decision to run this trip would be senior management, which is responsible for the cocurricular programme, probably the head teacher.

[smellyboot]

Don't forget that in Beavers (mixed age 6-8) and rainbows (girls 5-7) its normal to go on sleep overs albeit only one night. Mine went at 6 and loved it. Two other friends let their girls go only 2-3 weeks after joining different beavers and loved it. Loads of the rainbows are only 5 when they first go. Many children are absolutely fine. All our DC friends have been on sleep overs from Yr1 onwards with friends.

[bojorojo]

All parents would have to be CRB checked and then it is fine. Most schoolshave a list of parents who have been checked thse days. If it is a Council run centre then I guess it is fairly close to home. They are working wonders if they do not need any parents to help! Usually, if a school is asking for parents to go, they know they have space for a couple sleeping overnight in a shared staff bedroom. If the centre does not have space, the parents would not stay over. This is why schools tend to do this sort of trip fairly near home.

Children with SEN or any diagnoses can go. It is children and parents who decide they do not want to go that are left behind. It is assumed everyone has a place until they decide it is not for them. By using the word "struggle" I meant not ready to be away from home. You cannot stop other children gaining value from something because a few do not want to do it: where would that lead? At the school my children attended, the teachers were very much up for doing it. Totally enthusiastic and brilliant with the children, all week.

I think the parents who are not keen will just stop their child going, like GreatWhites above. It just means the staff get the most independent children and have less to worry about. If someone wants to go home, they can be collected, but even the slightly shaky ones were fine on our trip becaue they loved the activities, having their friends around them, laughing and having fun.

I think schools and other organisations realise that residentials have great learning value. I wanted to mine to go on every available trip, and they did. It gives them confidence, independence and challenges them. They can succeed in all sorts of areas they thought impossible. Best of all, it is away from the classroom. It is away from SATS and homework. What is not to like? We have a tendency to think children cannot do things when they can. Why assume they will all cry, just because a tiny number might? The ones that cry when they stay with a friend or Grandparents clearly should not go but that should not stop others from having an enhanced education.