to request more details about school trip or precious?

[Lordofmyflies]

Background info - next week my Yr 4, age 8, DD is going away with the school on a 5 night residential trip. We had one meeting detailing the cost ( £300) 6 months ago, staff going and the date. No further meetings except for a packing list.

The children will be be sleeping in rooms in groups of 4. My DD said that they were asked who they would like to share with 2 weeks ago and we that would be told today.

Today, she came out of school upset as she is apparently in a group with only one of her and 2 children with autism, which although lovely and I know them and their family well, both have sleep disturbances as a result, and are often awake at 1, 2 am! She is now worried that she will be woken up and often is physically sick if she doesn't sleep well and obviously fearful of that as well. AIBU to ask for a change of room?

Just have a quick chat with teacher and let them know she's sick if she doesn't get enough sleep

Room allocations are an absolute nightmare and you never please everyone.

I always ask children to write down three names they would like to share with and promise them that they will get at least one of their names. (even that sometimes doesn't work out because some clever children work out some kind of circular name writing formula to confound all possible permutations! )

Your daughter has one of her friends. I think that's the only guarantee that will have been made. Even if the other children don't sleep well they're not necessarily going to wake your child up are they?

You don't want more details - more details wouldn't change a thing.

She's with one of her friends, and someone has to share with the children with autism.

and

If you don't make it a big deal, it might not become one. Try not to transfer your anxiety to DD.
How well do you think they will sleep anyway? Aren't they likely to be all excited and chatting late?!

the lack of info about the trip does not have much to do with who she will be sharing with. TBH four excited children will be awake much longer than they would normally be at home, autism or not. How you can know how these children sleep when you say you barely know their parents is rather mysterious. Sounds more like you would rather your dd didn't share a room with a child with special needs?? Surely not?

What more info do you want? Presumably you know the name of the place/company? Could you google it and find outmore?

Also, after a day out in the fresh air doing lots of high-adrenalin activities she will, more than likely, sleep like a log. Ive no doubt the teachers have a plan in place should the more restless sleepers wake overnight.

I feel sorry for the kids with autism, how do you think they'd feel if someone said they didn't want to share with them?!

I think depending on the relationship between the two children with autism, you could have a point. Putting two children that sleep poorly together is a recipe for disaster - but I can understand why they would do that if they're best friends.

They will all probably sleep very soundly - from about 11pm!

Just go in and have a friendly chat with the teacher.

My son frequently has sleep disturbances. He does not have autism.

Year 4 is very young for a 5 night trip. I imagine there will be more than a few children unsettled at bedtime and possibly during the night.

Can you give her a few strategies in case she is disturbed. Or ear plugs?

manicinsomniac I have this as well and have discovered the threat of if they try to 'cheat' the system they will get no one they want to be with - seems to work quite well!

Sorry OP to go off thread.

Thanks for your replies. I think cansu, you've misunderstood my post, I said I know the one of the girls and her family well, in fact we have her over for sleepover regularly, although, again she's always not gone asleep till at least 2am! The autism really doesn't come into it. It was said to explain why the girls probably be awake most nights till 2 and why my dad is concerned of 5 nights of that and having to do extreme sports the following days is upsetting her to the point of her not wanting to go.
I will have a word with the teacher. Thanks

I used to work for an residential educational outdoor company and can almost guarantee to you that ALL of the children will fall asleep pretty sharpshooter and sleep well, they will be kept busy from 7am to 9ish at night and will be shattered. A couple will get teary and a little homesick at bedtime, mostly because they are so tired. I really wouldn't recommend ear plugs as if the fire alarm goes off it is very difficult to rouse heavily sleeping children and to clear a dormitory takes a lot of time and it's best if their hearing isn't impaired.

Sharpshooter was meant to be sharpish (auto correct lol)