Should school contact me or should I contact them?

[OverExpectantParent]

Situation: child with ASD/dyspraxia. The school know from previous years that he is not safe cycling on road and cannot swim. Admittedly not the same class teacher as previous years. Child was withdrawn from previous swimming lessons because the school could not guarantee adequate supervision.

School sends email on Saturday - school trip Monday afternoon, bring bikes, will be biking to local swimming pool and back.

No email or explanation to me about staff ratios, plan for how DC will be kept safe, if his TA is going etc.

Is it on me to call the school and ask arrangements?
Or should the school be contacting me first?

I'd get in touch as a pre-emptive measure rather than waiting fir them not to get in touch and deal with any aftermath.

Hopefully you will speak to school and they'll confirm your dc isn't taking part and it was a class wide communication sent out.

What is the school planning to do with children who don’t have bikes? I know it isn’t what you asked but a number won’t have bikes so presumably provision will be made for them so could your son and the ta go with them.

I'd contact them, but I'd probably word it as:

'I expect you have it all in hand, but can you let me know what provision you have for DS given, as school is aware from previous years, DS cannot cycle safely nor can he swim?'

btw That seems very bad the school withdrawing him from swimming lessons, given swimming is on the NC.

Presumably they need consent, so don't give it.

Very odd of the school not to note that not all children own bikes or can ride one. I suspect yours will not be the only email.

Also, very last minute, poor communication.

Hopefully you will speak to school and they'll confirm your dc isn't taking part and it was a class wide communication sent out.

So you would expect them to plan a school trip (which is in effect a compulsory sports lesson) with no thought of provision for a child with SN?

Basically should the school contact me and say "this is the trip, this is the plan, these teachers will be going."?
Or should I have to call up and say "so, this trip. How are you planning to keep DC safe, which staff are going?" And if they say no one, have to withdraw him for safety reasons?

That seems very bad the school withdrawing him from swimming lessons,

Basically class teacher and swim teacher were going to be there. Class teacher said it was fine, they would watch DC 1-1 and the swim teacher would watch the rest of the class. I refused as I didn't think it was safe, responsible or realistic to pass 25 children to one external teacher so DC could have 1-1.
Considering some of the kids in class had pushed Dc off the top of a climbing frame in a sports lesson the previous week, class teacher couldn't guarantee no one would push Dc in water, although she hoped not.... So it was me who withdrew him rather than the school saying he couldn't go.

That's standard staff for swimming lessons as swim staff that teach are in the headcounr. No, I don't expect your dc to be withheld but of you withheld your dc from swimming what do you want school to do? If you have withdrawn your dc from. Swimming will your dc not be included as they have consistently applied your withdrawn consent across all swim trips?

Yes agree rubbish communication as per other posters from the school, and to you to specify what's in place for dc who either don't have consent or parents withdraw consent, but my poi t was don't wait to see what happens, get in touch so at least arrangement have been clarified, and if it turns out school were going to do the wrong thing, you can still take tjus further as an issue you gad to raise this and stop this taking pkace rather than after an incorrect course if action has taken pkace if that makes sense?

No, I don't expect your dc to be withheld but of you withheld your dc from swimming what do you want school to do? If you have withdrawn your dc from. Swimming will your dc not be included as they have consistently applied your withdrawn consent across all swim trips?

I withdrew him last time there were lessons (this was two years ago). Even if they have carried this across and were expecting him to to go on the trip, what were they expecting him to do? There was no mention of alternative provision for him.

I would definitely have not let him go. That's not the issue here. My question is whether the initiative should lie with the school to organise suitable cover when it comes to trips like this, which are billed as obligatory, or if it should always be me questioning the arrangements as the default.

Ask to see the risk assessment for the trip. Seems presumptuous that all can cycle that distance, even if on a dedicated route, or have access to a bike, aside from taking any Additional Needs into account.

The school should accommodate the needs of their pupils. However, as it's your child who would be harmed by any oversight, I would definitely ask how they intend to keep him safe given his previous issues with swimming and that he's not a competent cyclist.

I'm not trying to say what is right or wrong. But having worked in schools and now as a parent, I would always take the initiative with my own children. Unfortunately staff and resources are severely limited in the state sector and the teacher will have many different children in their care with various needs, so you can't guarantee they will have allocated time and resources to deal with your child and therefore I would always take the initiative.

It seems very badly organised/last minute, and like others have said, there will surely be other children who don't have bikes/can't cycle. I would also have expected the teacher to contact you about arrangements, given your son can't cycle and is withdrawn from swimming.
If you don't work, I'd be tempted to keep him home that day. My dd1's primary didn't always contact me prior to trips, but if it was something she'd struggle with, like walking to and from town, they'd ask me to come and collect her so she only had to walk one way. Her TA used to go swimming with her.

Definitely contact them. Schools are hectic places and teachers have a lot in their plates. It's easy to overlook things like a child who you were once told can't ride a bike. I'm not excusing it, but realistically, it happens.

So yes, waiting for them to remember would be a bit daft when a simple email from you will remind them.

'I expect you have it all in hand, but can you let me know what provision you have for DS given, as school is aware from previous years, DS cannot cycle safely nor can he swim?'

I think this wording is perfect.

They should have in place reasonable adjustments to ensure that your child with SEND can take part in as much of the trip as is possible. If they cannot put these in place, the trip should not be taking place (if in the U.K. and therefore under the SEND code of practise).
If necessary, ask about the reasonable adjustments (using that phrase) and refer to the code of practise. The trip may not look identical, but a good option should be available.
BTW if in the U.K., the swimming thing should be looked at very carefully. Removing s child from an activity which is part of their national curriculum entitlement? Hmmmm….. (yes, I’m a SENDCO)

I think you need to contact the school, not to wait.
I know it's frustrating that school should be making sure that all the child's need to be met, but the mistakes do happen. Sometimes it slips their mind.
As a parent of a child who need some special arrangement, I don't wait to be contacted, I'll make sure they have provision for my dc.

Expecting every child to have a bike is very strange. There's also the issue of staffing ratios if the children are going to be riding on the road. The usual recommendation is 1: 8 but that's usually with qualified instructors or leaders. The risk assessment would certainly make for some interesting reading.

Expecting every child to have a bike is very strange
we live in the middle of nowhere. Younger DC has recently had a letter about bike lessons for PE and they ask you to let the teacher know if you don't have one and they will provide. I guess they know which children need one in DS's year so it's not an issue.

DC can ride a bike for miles. But has no sense of danger or any road sense.
looks like I'm expecting too much to expect them to factor in his issues.

Removing s child from an activity which is part of their national curriculum entitlement?
what would you have done? Let your child go and assume the teacher will actually watch them 1-1 and not get distracted by the other children in the class? Let the teacher leave the other children without proper supervision? I wouldn't want that on my conscience thanks.

@OverExpectantParent apologies tgat you read my comment that way- tge school was at fault here, not you. There should not have been a situation where you were made to feel that this was your only solution.

And further apologies for my typos.

Does he have an EHCP?

Does the pool have lifeguards? If so, the swimming teacher plus lifeguard should have no problem. They'll divide the class into about 3 ability groups, each with a swimming instructor. The lifeguards will be supervising.

The school should have made plans for adequate supervision. Ideally, they'd communicate them to you. If you're worried about what the provision is, call the school.

Does the pool have lifeguards?
no.

QueenofLouisiana yes, I really felt I had no other choice.

You are that parent. The teacher has suffered your child for a year and knows what he/she needs.
WTF?? The teacher has suffered my child?