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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I am aren't I? Don't want DS to go on school trip he is too small!

184 replies

BupcakesandCunting · 31/01/2012 12:32

DS is in reception class (4 years old) and we got a letter home last week to say they are going on a school trip to Twycross Zoo. I offered my services as a parent helper as I do help out sometimes at the forest school/trips etc and his teacher said "No but thanks, we'll be taking members of staff for school so we're all covered!"

Errrr, you what?! How many staff are they taking to cover 60 4/5 year olds?! There's only ten teachers at the school anyway and I don't think they'll be taking all of the teachers out.

Oh help me and tell me I'm being a nob. I have visions of DS or one of his classmates inadvertently getting separated and lost from their class or whatever. In my defence, I'm not the only one I earwigged on some other mums this morning in the playground and they're a bit Hmm about it too.

OP posts:
RobinSparkles · 31/01/2012 14:47

He'll be fine, you wally!

DD1 went on a school trip in October just after she'd started in reception. All of the children came back in one piece.

BluddyMoFo · 31/01/2012 14:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummymeister · 31/01/2012 16:15

Sorry but you have to let him go on this trip. it will be safe - they have to fill in so many forms for risk assessments etc and are so careful. just imagine your son coming home and being so full of it all. you let him go to school every day but don't worry (i hope!!) about him just wandering out down the street. School trips usually lead to class topics and if he doesnt go he will feel left out and being nobby no mates is worse. Just wait til he's a teenager - (dates, first driving lesson, first sleepover, first grown up party, alcohol - i could go on)

catgirl1976 · 31/01/2012 16:20

You are being a nob but it is natural, normal nobbery that I am sure I will partake in when DS is of that age too. But I will let him go (although may need help to do it) :)

Let him go

you could always accidentally find yourself visitng the zoo wearing a disguise and somehow following the group at a slight distance......happens all the time accidental, disguised, zoo visiting

Pinkjenny · 31/01/2012 16:24

Interestingly, dd has brought home a permission slip for a trip to the library on the train. Unfortunately, Radio 5 Live is on, talking about two girls who were killed by a train.

Butkin · 31/01/2012 16:26

DD went to Colchester School with her school when in Reception. Don't think any of the children declined and no parents went. We thought it was perfectly normal and didn't even consider not letting her go. She had a great time.

CalatalieSisters · 31/01/2012 16:28

It doesn't get any easier. Your children get bigger and more capable, but the trips just get more challenging to compensate, so that the level of parental fraughtness is a constant. DS2, 12, has just got back from a week's school skiing trip in France and I felt pretty much the same as you, OP. I think you have to bite the bullet, grasp the nettle, feel the fear, or you will be in bullet/nettle/fear avoidance for the Whole of the Rest of your Life.

And Twycross Zoo is brilliant.

OriginalJamie · 31/01/2012 16:28

If it's anything like our Reception trip to the zoo, the I wouldn't be alarmed. 50 yards walking, head-count, someone wants the loo, everyone wants the loo, everyone goes to the loo, head-count, 50 yard walk, someone wants the loo etc etc. Somewhere in there I saw a flamingo.

OriginalJamie · 31/01/2012 16:33

Parents being there on trips for small DC can be a nightmare. Children are different with their parents, they really are.

SoupDragon · 31/01/2012 16:35

I track DS1 (13) through his iPhone. Except the toad doesn't always remember to turn it on.

Pinkjenny · 31/01/2012 16:46

Original - I can imagine. We took a group of the class to the cinema at Christmas and they spent most of their time in the bloody loo.

Hulababy · 31/01/2012 16:53

I am sure they will have the staff:child ratios in hand, and they will have done a comprehensive risk assessment of the trip too. They will use teachers, TAs and school volunteers. the school has to do full risk assessments which cover all the different scenarios of children trying to wander off, etc.

The teachers won't lose him. If nothing else they wouldn't want the paperwork when they got back if they did! Grin Wink

Please let him go. He will have a lovely time and it will so exciting for him to go on his first proper school trip. Even more exciting if mum isn't there - honestly. this is true. The children do love the independence of going on a trip without mum or dad in general, it makes them feel grown up and they are clamouring to tell parents about it when they get back.

Hulababy · 31/01/2012 16:54

But yes - it can be nervous for parents. DD is 9y and goes on her first overseas school trip in May - 3 nights in France. She can't wait. Me - well, I'll be happier once she is home I expect!

StateofConfusion · 31/01/2012 16:57

Ds is the youngest in his reception class, hed been there two weeks when they sent home a letter for a whole school trip to colchester zoo.

I cried. I actually fucking cried.

4yrs 2mnths old still fitting in a 5pt harness in our cars carseats and I'm putting him on a coach.

I was irrational about it but I took a deep breath --and some diazepam-- and he had a wonderful time, and at a mere £5 with picnic and ice creams included I'd have been mad to say no. He did sleep the whole way home :)

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/01/2012 17:01

Awww you muppet.

I live about 20 minutes away from Twycross what day they going? we can have a mini mumsnet meetup so you don't look like the weirdo woman all alone hiding behind the gorilla cage. Wink

Highlander · 31/01/2012 17:03

Personally I'm horrified at the lack of training given to parent volunteers on school trips..........

CalatalieSisters · 31/01/2012 17:04

The biggest hazard at Twycross Zoo is that he will be reduced to bitter jealousy by the sight of the fabulous climbing frames that dominate so many of the monkey/gibbon/ape enclosures. It really is a lovely place to visit. Entirely enclosed, too, so if the worst came to the worst and a child wandered off, s/he couldn't get far.

SoupDragon · 31/01/2012 17:07

What sort of training do you think they need? Is 5+ years of parenting experience not training enough?

Catz1 · 31/01/2012 17:11

It's soooo hard and you will worry all day but try to let him go.

Pack him extra drink and write your mobile number on his arm (it'll make you feel better!!)

I have helped with lots of school trips and the kids always have great time and lots to talk about in the following days.

Hulababy · 31/01/2012 17:15

What training would a parent volunteer need?

We go through a risk assessment with each parent briefly and have them sign it. We give them a hi vis jacket to wear (well, if I have to have one, so can they!!!)
We make sure they know who the children are in their group and the children know who their adult it.
We don't put particularly high risk children with them.
We make sure they know to stand on the outside of a pavement, rather than the children.
And we make sure they have mobile numbers of the teachers/TAs.
And parents don't go off on their own with the children generally either.

MrsHoarder · 31/01/2012 17:17

Glad your parent volunteers know not to stand on the children Hulababy Wink

SorryMyLollipop · 31/01/2012 17:18

You are being a nob.

I am a teacher. Believe me. All the staff will be constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) head counting.

Trust the school, they have done this before, you know.

YABVVU

My kids went to Twycross zoo with nursery,

Hulababy · 31/01/2012 17:22

LOL Mrs Hoarder Grin
Yes, standing On the children would not be ideal. Not sure our risk assessment would cover then!

Of course, I meant it to read that the parents stand/walk on the road side of the pavement, the children stand on the inside part, away from the road.

exoticfruits · 31/01/2012 17:25

I think that you knew you were a nob when you posted! It will be fine and he will love it!
The risk assessment will start at getting on the coach i.e. possible danger-tripping up the steps-solution-an adult to help them up-and it will go on step by step. They will also have done many trips before and not lost one!

LeBOF · 31/01/2012 17:28

Threads like this seem to point up the fact that I really don't give a shit about about my kids. Or maybe I'm forgetting years of worry?

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