To be unhappy with this school trip?

[IWannaHoldYourHand]

Ds2 is in reception and has come home with a letter advising us of a school trip to a farm in December. The cost is a reasonable amount for the farm that will be visited, however the main focus of the visit is having lunch with Santa, and receiving a gift.

It is the visiting Santa that I feel odd about. I see this as a very family based event, and not something I would expect to do with anybody else, or without his sibling. We wouldn't even refer to him as Santa at home, and it just feels strange to me.

I have spoken to the head who informed me that this will be backing up their learning for that term, and advised that I have the option of attending, but it still feels wrong to me. So is this normal, do schools regularly take a trip to visit Father Christmas?

I'm not in England.

And I'm working on the whole religion in non-faith school thing too.

Santa is part of secular culture and unavoidable, I think it's up to parents to educate children how they see fit in who santa is or isn't, but if he's explained as a fictional secular character in your home surely writing a letter understanding some kids believe he'll bring presents isn't that damaging? I assume friends will tell kids who dont celebrate xmas about santa even if a school doesn't.

Or you could simply request your child is found an alternative activity that day citing faith reasons

But faith reasons weren't the OPs objection to it

Then Why are you worrying what's on the English curriculum?!

Fair enough. I guess I just like it when people can explain their position a bit better!

if he's explained as a fictional secular character in your home surely writing a letter understanding some kids believe he'll bring presents isn't that damaging? I assume friends will tell kids who dont celebrate xmas about santa even if a school doesn't.

A) that's quite something for a 4 or 5 year old child to get their head around, B) some children of that age are terrified of the idea of Santa and C) we non-Santa parents have to consider what our kids are likely to say to those that do believe. Nobody would be happy if their 4 or 5 year old came home having been told that their belief is wrong. Much simpler if schools just stayed out of it really. Likewise religion.

Then Why are you worrying what's on the English curriculum?!where did I say anything about the English curriculum?

Do you say England when you should say the UK? Because they aren't the same thing.

I think asking primary schools not to mention Santa/FC in the run up to Christmas is almost asking the impossible. Santa/FC plays a big part in Christmas for the vast majority of British children and schools are inevitably going to reflect that.

It's not just mentioning it if they start planning school trips and activities like writing letters/lists to Santa though, is it?

Do you say England when you should say the UK? Because they aren't the same thing. wink

Nope i mean England because erm at least Northern Ireland and Scotland have different curiculums so yes in this case England and the UK are very very different things!

At no point have I said anything about the English curriculum. I wouldn't, because in Wales we also have our own. (We're the bit stuck on the side, in case you aren't aware.)

The caretaker is Santa in ours and the photocopier cabinet is his grotto , I think it is lovely. He tends to bring books for all.

So when I say England I mean England as in the bit of the UK that starts at the English channel stops in the forest of Dean/Herefordshire/Shropshire/Cheshire to the west and stops at Scotland! I might mean the bit that involves Cardiff and Wrexham too but Im not sure!

The bit that includes Cardiff and Wrexham beat you at rugby last weekend. We're not the same country!

So disappointed one you knew exactly why I said England so why did you ask me if I meant the UK! No Im very aware of the bit on the side to the west the bit on top and that little bit that should be a totally different country but was colonised by the bit on top so rather than being attached to the country it is actually next to its attached to the "Mainland"

Well you didn't beat me at rugby because I'm from the larger bit of the country that wears green and won the six nations you know that competion that you got the wooden spoon for!

The bit that very defeninately part of the UK. Which is why I said erm England!

Because you were talking about the English curriculum as if it applies across the whole of the British Isles. Lots of people say England instead of UK and its prone to pissing the rest of us off.

Anyhoo, we're off topic.

I'm all in favor of the countries having their own identities which why I said England

On reflection, I suppose it all depends on how the whole trip is pitched. If it's purely and simply a trip to visit Santa then it might be a bit unusual and unfair on pupils in other classes although I still wouldn't have a problem with me child attending. But if it's also an opportunity to support other learning topics then I think it's absolutely fine.

For example last year one class at our school went on a trip to a chocolate factory. At first glance it would appear frivolous but it was tied into their topic for the term (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) and was used to discuss factory production, cocoa production, fair trade, dental health etc etc. it's entirely possible that the trip could also involve other non-Christmas related aspects of things the kids are learning like animals, crops, farm life etc.

No I wasn't, not at all, which is why I said ENGLAND! My examples were what would fit with the English curiculum I said England as in it only applies to erm ENGLAND! You were the one that said don't you mean the UK NO I MEAN ENGLAND! If I was implying all the countries then I would have said er well the UK!

I'm from the Republic of Ireland have a guess how much being called british or from the UK pusses me off!! Oh yes quite a fucking lot!

I happen to live in England and done teacher assistant training in England!

When I was at primary school, we had a visit from Father Christmas. My children visited Santa's Grotto in reception but not after that.

The school do a trip to the Pantomime at the local theatre. I'm a bit gutted about that as I would like to take my children to see the pantomime but it's not the same if they've already been.

I'm a Reception teacher in a non-faith school.

I'm an atheist myself but we touch on the Christmas story in Reception which I teach as, 'Christians believe...' This is the same philosophy I use to teach Divali (Hindus believe) or Hanukkah (Jews believe). I'd rather religion didn't exist but even I recognise the value of teaching children about it as a means of developing their understanding of (1) the world and (2) other people and communities (both on the EYFS curriculum). So long as Christmas is not taught as, 'we believe,' I don't have a problem with it.

We also talk about Father Christmas as a part of how many people celebrate Christmas. The children cut out pictures of things they'd like and stick them on stockings then label them. They collage reindeers. They enjoy looking at the CBeebies advent calendar as they countdown to FC's arrival.

I have children whose families belong to a range of faiths. Many follow no religion. Lots are British but I have children from China, Columbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Brazil, Poland. All of them would love a trip to the farm. All of them would love a visit to Santa's Grotto to get a gift - whether they celebrate Christmas at home or not.