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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not let five-year-old child go on school trip into central London

307 replies

Blueflowers2011 · 10/10/2016 20:18

as title says, Year 1 (age 5 mostly) are going on a trip into London, which consists of 30 children and supervising adults travelling on 1 rail train, interchange to 1 underground tube train then a 20 min walk when they get to the other side to visit a shop.

A couple of parents are now saying they are not allowing their child to go which is also confirming my thoughts initially, which btw is mostly due to anything happening in London in general.

I have worked in London all my life and it's bad enough travelling on the tube everyday as an adult, let alone a 5 yr old child. Many parents also feel it's an unneccassary trip at this age just to visit a shop and how it works.

I encourage most things and experiences for my children but just feel this one is a bit too much for a 5 yr old. Am I worrying too much or should I just let them go?

OP posts:
Princesspink999 · 10/10/2016 23:14

I have every sympathy - I would worry myself sick - definitely go as a helper if you can. If there are lots of other children not going I would be tempted to join them but would hate any if my dc to be the only ones left out of anything.

lizzieoak · 10/10/2016 23:15

I wouldn't let mine go. Not because of London, per se, but because staff can get distracted and leave one behind, have one get run over, etc. Unless the adult-child ratio is about 3 to 1, I'd say no.

Inmyownlittlecorner · 10/10/2016 23:18

I live in central London & DD1(7) has been going on school trips on the tube since she was in Reception.
The tube staff are great with the kids. They meet us at the stations & take us either to the next tube or the exit, the trains wait for us & the staff put us all on & let the driver know when to leave.
I still think that reception age children are a little young for this sort of trip though. Nothing to do with any fears over safety on the tube/bus/train, just the fact that they are small, get flustered & tired easily, especially when they're carrying their lunch around too! We did a trip to The Tower when DD was in Reception & had to change tubes at Kings Cross, some of the children got flustered on the escalator which was a bit stressful & on the way back they were almost falling asleep!!

smellyboot · 10/10/2016 23:23

We are Not london but are a city. School trips at age 4 on the normal public bus etc are common. I'd have no issues with it. Kids of 5 can walk for miles and if they can't then there are issues with that

toastytoastbear · 10/10/2016 23:28

I grew up in NI. Every time we had a year group trip to Belfast (usually a pantomime at the GOH) there would be one kid excluded 'because of bombs'. Said kid became a woman with crippling OCD and anxiety (maybe dad being a health inspector was part of it)

bumsexatthebingo · 10/10/2016 23:30

I'd let them go but unless your child is very sensible and you trust them to be responsible enough to stay with their adult at all times I would want to go as a helper.
I've been on a couple of school trips and at this age they have a lot of parent helpers and tend to have between 1-5 children to an adult (depending on the kids needs etc). I had 5 kids in my group and still had to prevent a child from another group from wandering off several times. On one occasion he was barely still visible in the distance when I said to the teacher 'is that x?'. The dad who was supposed to be watching him only had 2 kids in his group - his own and this other boy and obviously just wasn't bothering to watch the other child at all. So while you can probably expect the teaching staff to act responsibly, the parents can be a mixed bag ime.

NickiFury · 10/10/2016 23:32

I live in London, zone 2. I didn't let dd go on a school trip to the national gallery aged 5. I made that decision because I could see absolutely no point in my 5 year old trooping into the centre of London with 29 other mainly four year olds to visit a location she'd already been to a few times. I've often helped on those trips with both my dc and at that age it's just constantly lining up, head counting and toilet breaks with a lunch break half way through. Trips get good as they get older, the science museum for example in Year four was brilliant and I would never have prevented that.

As a parent I saw no point for MY child in that trip so she didn't go.

ShelaghTurner · 11/10/2016 04:12

Most memorable losing was a small group of SEN young teenagers. Came on a minibus, about 10 kids and good amount of adults. We found one of the kids wandering around on her own after the usual expected window of school visits had passed (most have gone by 3). On investigation the minibus and everyone in it had left and they didn't realise they'd forgotten someone until we rang them. Sounds unbelievable but is the God's honest truth.

Yes of course they were all reunited. I dealt with schools btw not families so no idea of the 'losings' in that area. Smile

MissHooliesCardigan · 11/10/2016 04:29

Apparently, Theresa May is planning on bringing in a law that nobody can buy a house in London unless they have at least a blue belt in Tae Kwondo.

IceTippedMountains · 11/10/2016 05:20

For those of you that live in London, travelling on tube has became the norm for many of your dc, therefor your DC would have more confidence travelling on the tube and wouldn't be as worried etc.

But for those children who have never been on the tube, it is a scary thought for parent's as they will wonder how they will cope, especially the ones who aren't very confident.

My young sons have never been on the tube before (we live in the north west) and tbh I would be very anxious if a field trip involved the tube in Central London.

LuchiMangsho · 11/10/2016 05:32

Someone here lives and works in London and their 4.5 year old has never travelled on the Tube? My 4.5 year old knows the Tube map by heart and has been travelling on it since he was 6 weeks old. Lots of London primary schools go on school trips. They are a bit loud in the carriage but it is fine otherwise. I am truly baffled by this thread.

Rozdeek · 11/10/2016 06:16

How do you nay sayers think children who live in London manage to do so safely Confused

These threads are bizarre.

Charlie97 · 11/10/2016 06:35

A pointless picnic in St. James's Park??

How is a picnic in an historic park, in our capital city pointless???

Do you only allow outings that have structured learning built in? Your poor child!!!

Op - you ABVU, but I guess you know that as you've disappeared!!

Strawberry90 · 11/10/2016 06:41

I said no and I do live in London... 5 is too little to be going out and about in central London

Strawberry90 · 11/10/2016 06:43

Ps luchi that's sad a child should know it's local park by heart not a tube map - plenty of time for the tube - isn't not exactly life enriching is it?!

Rozdeek · 11/10/2016 06:43

Why, strawberry? Confused

TantrumsAndBalloons · 11/10/2016 06:59

It's fairly life enriching to know where the tube goes and that it isn't anything to worry about

A lesson some adults on this thread clearly didn't learn at that age.

We do have 5 year olds in London you know.

ButterfliesRfree · 11/10/2016 07:03

We live in central London and the kids generally do school trips a lot on the trains, tubes and walking through central London. There is so much to see and learn. The trips are very well organized by teachers and lots of fun. I've been as a parent and as a teacher's assistant, and they are always good, so I'd go and have fun.

Ilovenannyplum · 11/10/2016 07:04

I think I'd let my DS go but would worry about him.
Like some PP, I have done the daily commute into London and trains/tubes are pretty busy at all times. I would like to think that the school wouldn't attempt to take them in rush hour.

What shop is it? Seems a bit odd to go all that way to see a shop....

Motheroffourdragons · 11/10/2016 07:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on behalf of the poster.

kenicka · 11/10/2016 07:11

I've been on loads of school trips and am quite amazed at the disorganisation. I wouldn't be happy taking 5 year olds to the centre of a big city. We took a class of year 3s into Manchester and the teachers didn't even check the tram was empty (I did and pulled out the kid that was staring out the window on the back seat). The haphazard approach to crossing roads is also always a bit of an eye opener. There are also always a few choice characters about, which is fine if there are just my kids but managing 30 is a bit different. I love school trips but public transport and large numbers of kids is a big headache.

NavyandWhite · 11/10/2016 07:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 11/10/2016 07:13

I've been on loads of school trips and am quite amazed at the disorganisation.

With loads of different schools?

I've only been on local walking trips with DCs school but they have always been very careful with road crossing for example. Nothing haphazard about at all.

Alorsmum · 11/10/2016 07:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Strawberry90 · 11/10/2016 07:17

Sadly the tube is sonething to be worried about - I've been going on it for years and have been groped and was on it (albeit in a different location) during 7/7 attacks.
You see them on the tube with the kids - teachers look strsssed out as anything, kids bewildered, it would be easy for them to get lost or taken in crowds. It's dirty and noisy. A coach direct to destination would be ok. 7/8 years old when they have a bit more life experience maybe but 5 is too little - I'm sure there's loads locally they could see.