Residential trip to France age 10 too young

Not the norm for me growing up or DD now. She had a 3 day (ish?!) residential a few hours away in year 6. Maybe postponed due to Covid. That made me nervous enough so I think France would be a bit much. Also could be first time abroad and that should be with parents really.

Really quite depressing and selfish that you openly limit your children’s life experiences.

When my kids were at middle school (yrs 5-8) it was a UK residential in year 5 and a Normandy residential in year 6.

What they don't even feel they can ask? That's really depressing. You realise at some point they will want to do things without the "family" and they will be in much better shape to do so if they've had some practice in a safe environment beforehand.

Why would you deny your child this opportunity?

I did two residentials in year 5 and 6, neither overseas but the other end of the UK and they were fabulous: some of the best times of my life and I still have clear and happy memories of them well over 40 years later. I think these trips are so good for kids. And I can't see why being in France is fundamentally that much bitter of a deal. I wouldn't hesitate.

It might be for yours but it certainly wouldn’t be for mine! It’s France not Australia 😄.

Some parents are so over protective - very sad 😢

A 5 day trip to France at the start of Y6 in state primary school is fairly normal here too. Not every primary school in the area by any means but quite a few. It’s not compulsory but in my experience most children do go. If it’s at the start of Y6 it’s quite a bonding experience and your child may feel they’ve missed out if they don’t go. Definitely talk to your child’s teacher if you’re concerned. You know your child best and if it’s not right for them.

Big PGL style summer camps for French kids is fairly common, bit like the USA. So for me I'd be reasonably comfortable if he was in bespoke accommodation that's been set up for this sort of thing with appropriate on site support from a local team in case of medical emergency and not being housed with exchange families. 10 feels a bit young to rock up and stay with complete strangers who speak a different language.

Presumably the school isn't proposing to schlep them all the way to the south of France on a bus. Parts of France would be quicker to get to from London than Norfolk would be.

Passport will be an extra cost if he doesn't have a valid one. They're about £60-70 now I think.

Too young.
Mine know not to ask for trips abroad - we only go as a family.

I did it at that age and hated every minute. I cried most of the nights and sometimes during the day. I am sure I made the teachers mad.

Dont send him if he doesn’t want to go. He will get nothing from it.

There are some excellent government schemes for primary children to experience school visits abroad all paid so that poorer families can join in.The staff at school are outstanding and one visited the hotel and sponsored school at half term to prepare and check everything. They have a What's App group with parents and loads of photos are shared. It's good to start young before prejudices have started.

If he isn't bothered I would let him stay home. One of mine wasn't bothered and only went because they didn't want to miss out. It was only a few days and in the UK but they hated it and still get teary occasionally. Really wasn't worth it. There are really only 4 scenarios:
Going and loving it
Going and regretting it
Staying and being ok with it
Staying and regretting it
Have an open discussion with him now and then decide together.
Long term it doesn't matter, he'll be fine whatever he decides to do.

I think schools are brave or insane taking these young kids abroad. I would be in such a state of anxiety looking after the children as a teacher! I am sure most kids love it, but surely the teachers have a breakdown?!!

I can’t believe children are taken to Delhi and Dubai from state schools. Really?!

Apologies for so many !!!

I just think emotionally, the younger the pupils are, the more support they would need.
I also think they would get less out of it than they would when older.

Why would it be pointless?

Not too young whatsoever. DD was 10 when she went on a school ski trip to Italy - despite some initial nerves she had an absolutely fantastic time and it was great for her to gain a bit more independence and confidence.

I'm not generally a cautious, or anxious parent, but I don't see the point in trying to take them abroad as a school trip, before secondary age.

I think they can miss out when everyone else does something they haven't, but I wonder if it would be "everyone else". Combination of other parents thinking it is a bit much for 10 yr olds, and also the cost.

Plus, wouldn't that clash with all the secondary school open evenings ?

I did an overseas residential trip at that age with my school, to Paris. Perfectly normal at that age.

My DDs Primary (state school) did this in Y6 … they all had a great time.

My granddaughter is currently in Delhi on a school trip , age 10 year 5. She went skiing to France last year. Village primary school not private. They begin with one night away locally in year 3. There are also opportunities to visit Dubai and Madrid as well as a year 6 trip to Ireland and other local stays. It works very well and gives confidence and resilience.

Not the norm here. 2 day residential at one of the Urdd activity centres in year 5/6( about an hour or so away). No foreign trips until high school.

It's quite young to be away 5 days but only you know your child. My dd year 6 would think it was really exciting and want to go.

What is your son's reason for not wanting to go? Has he been on trips away from you before? My only worry would be that he regrets it afterwards.

Mine went in Year 6 (she was 11, but I guess some could be 10). Honestly, it was a wonderful experience for her and all of them. There were a lot of very hesitant parents and definitely tears from the kids heading off (interestingly, mostly from the ‘tough boy’ types). But it was truly wonderful. Even the ones whose parents were really worried came bounding off the coaches when we collected them saying what a blast they had.

The travel also was fine. 5 hours in coach to the port, overnight ferry, maybe 1 hour to accommodation on the other side. They’re 10/11, much more resilient than us!

Obviously, it’s quite expensive, but if you can swing it, I really would consider encouraging him to go. It’s a real growth experience for them.

Fwiw, mine is off to Germany for a week with school this year in Y7. Both state schools and very ordinary ones at that.

In the early 70s, age 10 (Year 5) went to Wales for a week, coach and train (train hit a cow, now there's a story), wood huts, poured of rain, brilliant time being made to walk through flooded forests. Age 11 (Year 6), off to Beccles, YHA this time, again for a week, great fun and I really gained from the trips and helped with the much longer coach trip to Germany a couple of years later, which still pops up in conversations with old school friends, not for our behaviour, but that of a couple of the teachers!!!

Everyone I know that went on school trips remembers them fondly and its a part of the process of growing up, being carted off somewhere with the school!

It’s not the norm here but I know of several schools that do it. I don’t think a coach ride to France is much different to a residential in the UK. What a fabulous experience for them- if my DC school had offered it and I could afford it I would have sent them.