to think 1st come 1st served is not a fair way to do things.

[lincsslass78]

At dd's infant school they always offer after school clubs on a 1st come 1st served basis. All fine in theory. However, the last one was heavily oversubscribed.
Those who got places were the ones where forms were physically handed in at the office. The children who didn't get places were mainly the younger ones who were really excited and wanted to hand the forms to their teacher.
Surely all the forms hitting the school on the same day should get the same priority.
Seems a realy unkind way to do things.

They need one system of where the forms have to go, to ensure it's equal. Other than that I think First come First served is fair.

Think putting names in a hat would be a much fairer way to do things

What other way do you suggest?

Can't you just tell your DD that she stands more chance of getting in if you hand in her form yourself?

My DCs infant school does this too - by Child Number 3 I got wise, and I now give in forms to the office on the evening that the forms are given out.

I think names-in-a-hat would be fairer - though the school does mitigate the situation by giving priority to those children who didn't get a place if the club runs again.

I an new to this school thing so didn't realise this might be an issue. Just foolishly thought all forms handed in on same day would be treated fairly. (Names in hat etc)
Know for next time.

Hopefully school will do that jeee. I will be also handing forms straight to the office if it happens again.

Another way would be to give priority to the older forms on the basis the others will have their turn another time. That way each child who goes all the way up the school should manage a turn.

Problem with "picked out of a hat" is that by the law of averages one child will never be picked and another child will get it every time.

It's probably more that the older ones were aware it was likely to be oversubscribed and hence handed it in at the office to increase the chance, whereas the younger ones didn't think about doing that.

It was always first come first served when DC were at school.

You had to get in quick for school trips abroad in secondary,they went like hot cakes.
Admittedly difficult if you had to save for the deposit which was often expensive.

life isnt fair

it's not necessarily fair - DD has 2 parents who work FT and goes to ASC most days.

I need to know DD has a permanent place in ASC, or we are screwed - our childminder can't get to nursery to pick her up for 3. How on earth would names in a hat work for us? Thankfully the nursery give priority to children of parents who both work and DD has a permanent place.

It does depend on the club a bit. I'm about to run a club were it will not be 1st come 1st served. I have to match children with a partner for the exercises they will be doing in club. Partners have to be of similar height, but age is not relevant. Another group of children who don't get to do the club this half term will offered a chance next half term.

i just hand the form in the day we get it, so collect kids, look in bags for letters and if necessary i fill it in there and then and hand into the office.

Are you sure the older ones didn't get in because they give priority to older ones as the younger ones can have their turn later? That's how they do it in our school.

For the reason DeWe gave, names out if a hat isn't any more fair than first come first served.

If clubs are first come first served in our school, it always says so on the letter, and I have learned to have me cheque book with me at school pick up time so that I can hand slips in straight away.

How do you know this was how it was done?

We have this system - forms cannot be handed in before 8.30am on a certain day, then they must be placed face down on the office desk, and the first 10 (or whatever) for each activity get the places.

Everyone is always really early on that day, then it's a real bun-fight with everyone pushing to the front to get their forms in first. Sometimes mums are convinced they were first in, but somehow their child doesn't get a space, and there are complaints and accusations of rigging the system. Most people think these mums are a little ridiculous though.

our primary school does lists and was ridiculous with 1 mum getting to school early on the morning the lists were up and signing up all the kids in their 'clique' for all the in demand clubs, meaning no-one else got a look in! So school adopted a names out of hat for oversubscribed clubs. Priority is given to those who haven't attended the club/activity before and then if any spaces left, names picked out of hat. Seems to work better now and none of the bunfights for signing up lists!

Whoever told you life was fair?

lol at the 'life isn't fair' comments

maybe they should run another club if so over subscribed?

The fact that "life isn't fair" doesn't give the school carte blanche to make no effort to make entry to clubs fair. Where would it end? "Sorry no school dinners left for you, you'll have to go hungry. You have to understand that life isn't fair."

at Miette.

It does seem inappropriate at infant school - aren't they too young to have the responsibility for something like this?

I think they should say that priority goes to those who've missed the chance in a previous round, or randomly out of a hat. Otherwise you're going to end up with some poor five year old child feeling it's his fault because he didn't hand a form in on time!

These aren't childcare clubs though are they?

They're free activity clubs like footie etc

That was to Hippotamus btw

oh - sorry. the only ASC I've experienced is childcare. I've so much to learn