School trips and parents

[Anotherdaynotasingledollar]

Today there was a school trip and many parents volunteered to go.
The school told some parents that they would pick those parents that hadn't been before
However there are 2 parents who always go
Their children are not special needs but one parent in particular is always chosen for everything and they have an older child in the school already whom they have gone from n these trips with and will probably continue to do so.
Part of the problem I think is that a. She is very pally with some of the staff and b. It is the deputy head who picks the parents who chooses the parents and gets a n with this particular parent
AIBU and What would you do if anything

I was the parent who always went OP. Nothing to do with being pally with the staff. It was because i volunteered in school a lot, knew all the kids and was DBS checked and held a first aid certificate.

The reception trip to the zoo took years off my life.

Hats off to anyone who goes on more than one school trip per child's entire school career.

Some parent 'helpers' are worse than the children.

Trips like that would be my idea of hell.

I wouldn't be at all bothered about not being picked. I would be relieved.

I really enjoyed going on DD1's school trip. I would readily go again!

There are a few people who are always picked - some parents know the kids' names or have a first aid certificate or help at other events etc.

We have to pay for school trips when we go as volunteers - not sure if that's normal but it certainly avoids this issue

Same here - I sometimes am asked to help on certain trips. I help regularly in school, have DRB certificate, and know lots of children from across various year groups. It means that I can help by taking groups to the loo, be left alone with small groups etc. If it a trip where there is only one member of staff, they need another DRB checked helper.

I tended to 'get picked' all the time.
I had a 7-seater car, umpteen CRB checks and the sort of child who would otherwise have required an extra helper.

I quite like NOT having to go on school trips these days.

I've helped on a couple of school trips. Likewise I've offered and not been picked. I do think a lot of the above points are valid. I am active on the PTA and when I wasn't working helped out in the classroom a few times. Therefore the kids and a lot of the staff know me, I have a school DBS check and like to think I'm quite useful!
Not too worried if I'm not picked though.

I was upset last week at not being picked to go on Yr1 trip with ds, as he really wanted me to go. I am very active on the PTA, am DBS checked with the school, and have helped walk the kids around town before.

I was paranoid the teachers don't like me, so I started a thread. Turns out it's mostly for practical reasons/1st come 1st served/it's not fun anyway, so I got over myself! (My main issue with school is that they don't give enough notice of events or whether they need you).

I work in a school - the amount of parents who threaten all sorts about being picked for school trips is incredible. As soon as a trip is announced there are parents who inform teachers that they have booked the day off so they can help. Other parents say they will not allow their children to go if they are not picked to help. Some parents even make plans to attend the same venue and 'stalk' the trip.

I absolutely LOATHED going on school trips. My two youngest are 11 months apart, so I did two trips for the older of the two children & then the next year they said "Mrs P, you know the lay of the land from last year, you'll come again won't you? NO! yes, of course another two trips that year PURGATORY. I know some mama bears enjoy it, but I really didn't.

This is why our school won't have any parent helpers on trips at all, if it can possibly be avoided.

God, I once volunteered for one of these trips, had to dress up in Stuart period costume, turn a chicken on a spit for two hours and make lavender scented bags. Was bored shitless, think yourself lucky if you don't get picked.

Blimey
Its like some people can never quite leave school behind.

You are upset about another girl being picked because she is the teacher's pet.

Some parents are frankly more work than the kids on school trips.

There are some parents who are fantastic, they will always be chosen, not because they are pally with the staff but because a parent who knows what they are doing is useful. There are also some parents who are a bloody nuisance and it woulds literally have to be a case of taking them being the only way the trip could go ahead.

At DD's school, they spent a term and a half asking for volunteers to take the children swimming. I was the only one to go with DD's class for the whole term. The following term, there was a trip to Harry Potter studios and people were falling over themselves to volunteer - even though they didn't ask, they just offered the places to people who helped with swimming. So, in our case, people who help with putting swimming caps on thirty children the shit jobs have first dibs on the fun ones.

LinaBo great way of dealing with it

I can't believe grown adults get upset about not going on school trips though.
Why not just take your children places as a family?

I went to school trip couple of times and found it very hard work. I am not strong and assertive enough to deal with lot's of children.
Some parents are naturally better with these, maybe because of experience or personality or whatever.
They are there to assist, and not there to have fun. Totally understand why school/teachers wants to pick certain parents who they can trust.

My friend told me she was always picked and a bit fed up about it as she was only volunteering to be helpful - the teacher told her he always 'picked her name out of the hat' because he knew she was reliable.

Maybe they know she's reliable and responsible and does a good job?

I'm about to volunteer for a trip and if I'm being honest I'm pretty sure I'll get picked precisely because I've done a number of trips and I know I do a good job, and I know that the phase leader knows and appreciates this. (I don't actually really like doing them but DD loves it when I do.)

Those that get chosen the be a helper, are the ones that understand that's what they're there for, to help all the children. Not the ones who go for fun bonding time with their own pb, and only them.

I went on many school trips before my oldest was finally diagnosed with autism. Broadly he was potentially annoying/needy/unpredictable and was calmer with me. After he was diagnosed they still wanted me!

I teach in a school. We have a list of favoured volunteers (anyone welcome to join) but they must be dbs checked first. The more they volunteer (this is their own time given for free), the more likely they are to be asked (if they are reliable).

Frankly most parents are a PITA and few get the responsibility involved. A trip for the kids isn't the same for staff or parents, few people realise this.

DBS checked for school trip? Really? I'm not and I'm pretty sure not all are (though I know a couple who are for their own work).

River it depends on the trip. I am often asked where there is only one teacher, and I can be safely left with a group on my own, loo trips etc.