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Original poster

Helping out with School Trip

16 replies

Susiestude · 03/10/2024 12:22

Hi, My sons' school are asking for helpers on a school trip. I want to help and I think he'd love me to attend but I'm a bit nervous about what it involves. Any advice? Thanks :)

OP posts:
thecrispfiend · 03/10/2024 12:25

I went on one and was given a group of 5 kids (including my son) to look after. It was quite tiring as you have to watch them constantly we were walking through a town and had to make sure they were safe crossing the road, staying in their pairs and keeping up with the group. Helping them get their packed lunch in and out of the bag, making sure they didn't lose coat or bags etc. lovely day but tiring !

Needmorelego · 03/10/2024 12:26

You'll probably have a group of 4 kids.
Expect to say "no it's not time to eat yet" every five seconds.
Anything like needing the toilet the staff deal with.
That's it really.

ParentOTeen · 03/10/2024 12:27

I have been on a couple of these. The school should carry out a DBS check initially which is standard if you are working with children. I expect you will have a group of 4 or 5 children (depends on class/trip size). You will be responsible for these children during the trip. The one thing you would have to explain to your DS is that you are there to look after the group of children and not just them. Can be a very rewarding experience and good fun.

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Needmorelego · 03/10/2024 12:28

Oh yes - "He have you got everything?" will be said 100 times.

Needmorelego · 03/10/2024 12:30

@ParentOTeen parent volunteers don't usually need DBS because they won't be alone with the children.

MirandaWest · 03/10/2024 12:31

Some schools have parent helpers not with their own child so I’d check whether that is the case.

ParentOTeen · 03/10/2024 12:31

Needmorelego · 03/10/2024 12:30

@ParentOTeen parent volunteers don't usually need DBS because they won't be alone with the children.

Thx...I helped on a couple of trips so was more of a regular...think 1 off trips you dont need one. :)

TickingAlongNicely · 03/10/2024 12:32

What age? I did my first one in Preschool and last in Yr5. At 3yo, it was full on 100% eyes everywhere, my two charges (DD and her friend) weren't allowed a inch away.

By Yr5, it was a teacher at the front, TA at the back and two patents in the middle working together to keep the 25 kids walking sensibly, filling in their worksheets and making sure the ditsy ones didn't wander into the road. Plus pointing out that the spiders were tiny in the woods.

Arran2024 · 03/10/2024 12:36

thecrispfiend · 03/10/2024 12:25

I went on one and was given a group of 5 kids (including my son) to look after. It was quite tiring as you have to watch them constantly we were walking through a town and had to make sure they were safe crossing the road, staying in their pairs and keeping up with the group. Helping them get their packed lunch in and out of the bag, making sure they didn't lose coat or bags etc. lovely day but tiring !

My girls' schools wouldn't let parents look after their own children - the thinking was that you would focus on your own child in an emergency and not on everyone.

FrenchandSaunders · 03/10/2024 12:37

Oh I used to love doing this when mine were little and overjoyed to see me on their school trip. Make the most of it as they soon get to an age where they're embarrassed to even be seen together in public.

thecrispfiend · 03/10/2024 12:40

@Arran2024 to be honest it would have been easier without my son in the group 🤣

MabelMaybe · 03/10/2024 12:45

In our school you specifically don't get your own child, so you may need to give your DC prior warning of this. It's not "ooh mum's coming with me to the castle"

Hayley1256 · 03/10/2024 12:46

I'm still slightly traumatised from when I volunteered for a day trip to the seaside with my DD's Y3 class a few years ago.

On the 1 hour long coach trip as soon as one kid needed the toilet they all needed it, que me been the one to lead them back to their seats and not knowing if they had washed their hands (this repeated on the way back).

During the seaside trip, it was toilet time again and a lot of them needed help wiping for number 2's (the teacher looked at me blankly when I asked what I should do) and they also needed help getting back into tights, playsuit etc.

Then there was the picnic on the beech where sand was blowing into food and eyes.

I've never used so much hand sanitiser and the only way I'm helping again is if it's for something like a museum that is under 30 mins away 😅

I got lots of brownie points with DD though and she still remembers my horror of the coach toilets!

Good luck if you decide to go.

Original poster
Susiestude · 03/10/2024 13:19

TickingAlongNicely · 03/10/2024 12:32

What age? I did my first one in Preschool and last in Yr5. At 3yo, it was full on 100% eyes everywhere, my two charges (DD and her friend) weren't allowed a inch away.

By Yr5, it was a teacher at the front, TA at the back and two patents in the middle working together to keep the 25 kids walking sensibly, filling in their worksheets and making sure the ditsy ones didn't wander into the road. Plus pointing out that the spiders were tiny in the woods.

Its Yr one :)

OP posts:
FusionChefGeoff · 03/10/2024 13:20

They're a brilliant opportunity to meet your kids friends / get to know the school and teachers better so I'd definitely recommend it.

In our school yes you get your own kid plus 3 or 4 more then just follow the teacher and don't lose one of your kids!

thecrispfiend · 03/10/2024 13:24

Hayley1256 · 03/10/2024 12:46

I'm still slightly traumatised from when I volunteered for a day trip to the seaside with my DD's Y3 class a few years ago.

On the 1 hour long coach trip as soon as one kid needed the toilet they all needed it, que me been the one to lead them back to their seats and not knowing if they had washed their hands (this repeated on the way back).

During the seaside trip, it was toilet time again and a lot of them needed help wiping for number 2's (the teacher looked at me blankly when I asked what I should do) and they also needed help getting back into tights, playsuit etc.

Then there was the picnic on the beech where sand was blowing into food and eyes.

I've never used so much hand sanitiser and the only way I'm helping again is if it's for something like a museum that is under 30 mins away 😅

I got lots of brownie points with DD though and she still remembers my horror of the coach toilets!

Good luck if you decide to go.

Edited

Ours was a seaside too and I am still traumatised by the long hot and extremely noisy journey on a very old bus!! Haha

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