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Original poster

School trip anxiety

11 replies

Worryingagainandagain · 17/05/2019 21:22

So I will preface this as I know I am probably being precious and over anxious and I will be letting my dc go but....

They have a school trip coming up 90 reception aged kids going to a theme park, I am really nervous about it. I am in overdrive about them losing my dc, and worrying that he could wonder off and not be noticed.

So how do they manage this and how do I put my mind at ease?

OP posts:

ladygracie · 17/05/2019 21:26

We manage it by being even more vigilant than we are with our own children. Constant counting, children put into small groups, each with an adult responsible for those children. There will have been a risk assessment done and probably a pre-visit by the staff member who organised the trip. They will drum it into the children that they are not to leave their adult at any time. Does that help at all?
Has the trip been run before? If it has, could you speak to someone whose child has been before to put your mind at ease?

LolaSmiles · 17/05/2019 21:27

You are being precious, but in a normal protective way.
They'll be in groups with an adult at all times. On the off chance a student wanders off, a child in uniform gets stopped by staff and a call will go out, but that's nothing to worry about. Staff on school trips honestly spend half their time doing the arm waving counting mime.

You've just got to chalk it up to the fact that staff are trained to run the trip, the risk assessment has been approved and accept your worries are a normal feeling but nothing to be anxious over.

Todaythiscouldbe · 17/05/2019 21:28

That's perfectly normal. DS is 15 and I still worry!

There will be a high adult:child ratio and the adults will check/count constantly. I've done many school trips and found myself counting to six every 20 seconds.

Could you volunteer as a parent helper? Seeing how well run a school trip is may set your mind at rest for the future.

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Original poster

Worryingagainandagain · 17/05/2019 21:32

I can’t the time off work to go but it helps a little to know they constantly count, first trip for dc and I am overly anxious but I know millions of kids go on school trips and are fine but the doesn’t seem to help

OP posts:

BedraggledBlitz · 17/05/2019 21:33

My sons nursery do trips involving public buses and I get anxious about the idea of them near busy roads etc. I have to reason with myself that it's good for him and I dont want him to miss out on fun.

They are all attached to an adult by wrist straps and wear high viz vests. Probably safer than trips out with me

Mississippilessly · 17/05/2019 21:36

Gosh I would worry too!
The only thing I can say is (at least speaking from experience) teachers spend most of the time on a trip barely breathing and obsessively counting kids!

Original poster

Worryingagainandagain · 17/05/2019 21:39

I know you’re all right about the teachers worrying and counting etc. Just one of the many things I have to get used to I suppose

OP posts:

MitziK · 17/05/2019 21:44

Even with great hulking six footer teenagers, you get allocated a small group that is yours and you're constantly counting them partly because the gits will disappear off in search of McDonalds at the first hint of evading the guards

I allocate each kid a number and then they have to shout theirs out in sequence as soon as I say 'numbers!'. We go nowhere until I hear number 7 call out, even if number 7 is glaring sullenly three foot away from me. I have your tickets and transport home, don't forget - plus your Mum's mobile number and I will arrange for every kid in my group to snap you constantly until you get your backside back here if you even stand the wrong side of a pillar...

Small children are far more amenable than that. And I haven't lost a big one yet.

lucysmam · 17/05/2019 21:53

I agree with everyone above (I run several Rainbow/Guide trips per year, plus accompany many school trips) you count...constantly...to make sure you have the right number.

It's knackering counting to 5 several bazillion times but honestly, I watch other folks' children closer than I do my own (and I'm fairly strict with my own when we're out and about).

Mitzi I'm not sure how well it would work with younger dc's who have less understanding of numbers but I like your idea of each having a number so am going to try it next time I take out my Rainbows or Guides (current school role is 1:1 so hopefully we'd manage that!).

Flobalob · 17/05/2019 22:49

We had the same when my boy was in nursery and my girl was in Reception. They had a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 for that age.
I was lucky enough to volunteer and that really put my mind at rest seeing how well they ran it and how many adults there were for the youngest children. They go in small groups of say 6-8 kids and 3-4 adults. So, much like you might be on a day out with your own children and a couple if friends. They don't go round in groups of 30.

Littlebean13 · 18/05/2019 00:11

I've been a parent helped a few times for that age group and like a pp said, it's always been either 2 or 3 children per adult.
I swear I keep an eye on other people's children more than I do my own on school trips I absolutely never let them out of my sight.
I know it's really daunting, I was so anxious the first time ds went on a reception school trip without me.
The school will absolutely drill it in to the kids that they must never stray from their designated adult. Maybe have a few chats with your dc leading up to the trip about this, it might put your mind at ease.

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