Would you let your 8 year old go to London for 3 days with school?

[johnbarrowmanlovesme]

It is in two weeks time & the teacher doesn't really seem to have thought things out yet, we have had no itinerary or any details at all. I know some of the other parents also have concerns about the lack of information.

I have said I am willing to go along to help, but am now having second thoughts, don't know how many kids I will have in my charge, at least 6 I'm told

Would you expect to have to pay to go on this sort of thing, as it won't be a jolly, quite hard work I would have thought.

My DS really wants to go & I know he would be disapointed if I say no so would have no choice but to go with him for my own peace of mind.

Also, would all the helpers be requited to have CRB checks do you know? You do if you help at school so I would have thought it would be absolutely necessary for an overnight trip.

Loads of questions, sorry. Well done if you have got this far!

[johnbarrowmanlovesme]

required even

[Twiglett]

absolutely not .. but then we live here

it must be planned out because they'll need a risk assesment and accomodation etc

I think 8 is too young to go on sleepover trips with school tbh (although my 7 year old went on a campout with woodcraft but we dropped him off at 7pm and picked him up at 10am and he was 10 mins down the road)

[FranSanDisco]

I would let my 8 yo dd go with her school. I would expect that all helpers would be paid for as they are volunteers. I would also expect CRB checks but these can take up to 12 weeks to come through sounless you already have one it may be too late to apply if you say the trip is in 2 weeks. I also think 6 eight year olds wouldn't be too much hard work for one adult but then that depends on the children

[Majeika]

I would be concerned about the lack of info and would want to know exactly what was happening and what they were eating and where they sleeping and who was helping.

How much will it cost and what is the purpose of it?

Deffo CRB checks will be required.

[juuule]

No.

[johnbarrowmanlovesme]

they have holland park hotel in mind for accommodation but we haven't been told anything about risk assesments etc.

Glad u agree with me Twiglett, not just a few neuotic mothers

[FranSanDisco]

I agree that the lack of info is worrying. I would expec there to be a meeting for briefing parents at some point soon. If this didn't happen I wouldn't be happy about dd going.

[Fennel]

I would let my 8yo if she wanted, but she's already been away a few times (woodcraft camps) and she seems to enjoy it.

Everyone will have been CRB checked and so on, they have to be.

[pointydog]

Yes (if properly planned). Brownie camps are overnight for two nights.

[ahundredtimes]

Yes, my 8 y-o went away for three days at the end of the summer term to Dorset. But there was planning and talking and letters and meetings and planning and then some. Would be a bit nervous at lack of planning?

perhaps there is planning but no communicating? Have you talked to teacher?

[SmugColditz]

I wouldn't let my 8 year old go to London without me unless absolutely ALL his year were going. London is a long way from here.

[MissVictoriaNSqualor]

It all depends on the child.
DD is going on a residential week in October, one month before she is eight but there are children in her year who can't handler sleepovers yet.

[johnbarrowmanlovesme]

Thanks for all your replies, mixed opinions there. I know it does depend on the child, but even the most sensible 8 year old could be at risk of getting lost etc if one of the naughtier ones distract the person in charge of them.

The reason for the trip is their project for this term is 'megastructures' so the teacher wants to take them to see the london eye, big ben etc. I spoke to the teacher yesterday & asked how they were getting about in London, by tube? & she said 'ooh, that's a good idea!' I mean how much has she actually really thought about this. Two weeks to go & we haven't been told anything about it. A TA at school has a child in mine's class & she isn't confident about it all so what does that tell you?

We are just hoping that there won't be enough kids going & it will be cancelled. I know that sounds mean but I do think that would be the easiest way out of it, but such a shame for the kids as she has built them up for it.

[pudding25]

I am very surprised that the school has not got this organised properly. I am a teacher and even for a day trip out, we need our risk assessments in weeks in advance as the governors need to approve them. We took yr 4 away for 2 nights and the parents had details months in advance. I find it very strange.
I would speak to the school and ask for more info.
Any helpers should be crb checked before htey can help out.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.

[roisin]

I read the title and thought yes, definitely, but I having read the thread I think you're right to be concerned.

Our LEA doesn't approve of parent helpers on residential trips at all. Under exceptional circumstances governors etc. could go, but must be CRB checked.

I do all the admin each year for two residential trips for yr7s and accompany one of the trips. It is incredibly hard work as you are on duty 24/7. Risk assessments and so on have to be sent to County months in advance and planning is meticulous.

I would put a formal enquiry to Head or Governors on this asap.

If you are not 100% satisfied with the responses withdraw your child and your offer of help.