Would you make a complaint about this?

[IDrewThat]

My dd was taken on a school trip last week. It was an outdoor event with plenty of opportunities to go inside for refreshments and learning events. I've been to this place before and I'm aware of the indoor spaces.

The day came and the weather was awful. Torrential rain and winds. The school proceeded with the trip telling parents to rest assured children will be kept inside at all chances.

I collected dd at home time and she was hysterical. Shivering and crying. Her clothes were equivalent to if she had been swimming in them. I was furious.

All the children came home soaked. A lot of them really distressed!

Dd said it was so horrible. They were kept outside all day. Didn't go inside anywhere at any time. Dds lunchbox was soaked through as they had to sit on them to eat their lunch or stand and eat in the pouring rain.

It sounded horrific. Dd said the children kept getting told to hurry up and the whole time was spent practically running in the rain trying to keep up with each other. They didn't learn anything. Some children slipped and injured themself. One child wet themself as they couldn't find the toilets.

My dd is 6 and the eldest group was 10 year olds.

Would you make a complaint about this? I would complain about the fact the children did not go indoors at all as promised. They learnt absolutely nothing and were distressed by the end of it.
Not to mention the amount I paid, but that's irrelevant really.

You can’t just call a coach to pick you up, if it’s a local trip they’ll be doing other jobs

How dramatic!??

It's July... bit of 'weather'

If it's as bad as op SAYS, then there will be complaints left right and centre...unless....

Funnily enough LIDL doesn't have waterproofs in right now.

I'm sure you realise that the vast majority of people are not buying waterproofs, summer gear and ski kit each year. There are plenty of families struggling to provide appropriate coats and shoes for their children.

Funnily enough LIDL doesn't have waterproofs in right now.
ok your are going down the picky route and using the one shop out of my possible places that could have waterproofs. So Lidl doesn’t have any kit at the moment, but the Range does have wellies, so do markets and camping shops and even face book market place. It sounds like you just want to try and show me up? Why do you want to do that?

I'm sure you realise that the vast majority of people are not buying waterproofs, summer gear and ski kit each year. There are plenty of families struggling to provide appropriate coats and shoes for their children Yes of course but I was giving examples on how to get ahead of the game and save money by buying at discounted rates. I know not everyone can afford to do this but some people can.

Anything else you want to pull me up on ? However, can I point out I am not the only one that said about waterproofs. Why not have a go at them as well or are you just singling me?

I think the school would already know it has been a lousy trip when they did their debriefing. I would imagine the teachers have said it was a bit shit and revisited risk assessments to see what went right and wrong and how things can be improved fo next time.
oh The torrential rain yesterday did come as a bit of a surprise
How has it been a surprise. There have been national weather warnings and we have been having heavy down pours on and off for a few weeks now. Does no one use met check. I thought most parents did to check to see if they needed to send for sunscreen, extra water, check the counts and even days when we may get heavy rain. 🤷‍♀️

I'm 'pulling you up' on your idea that everyone is going to have high quality wet weather gear suitable for spending hours in the rain available at short notice for their children. Or be able to just nip out to their local camping shop and buy some. It's nonsense.

Yes I would be either complaining if I was that upset or feeding back to the school.

Bloody hell, god forbid anyone insinuate that teachers made stupid decisions. No she shouldn't be thanking them! Absolutely complain OP. Teachers aren't always right. And they aren't martyr's.

My children always have wellies and a raincoat that fit them, but since they were toddlers they've not had waterproof trousers unless they were doing forest school and specifically needed them and even their rain coats aren't designed for heavy rain.

I don't buy them because most years they wouldn't get used so it's not saving money by being prepared, it's wasting money.