thinking my child is old enough to go around town without adult supervision?

[DorothyL]

Dd is going to an event with her sports club where we've been told she is not allowed to be outside of adult supervision at any time - she's nearly 15.
Her sister who is 17 is allowed but only in groups of three.
This seems ott to me, but apparently it's current safeguarding advice?
She went on a school trip to Paris last year and was allowed to go in groups of three then.
Anyone know the legislation, or is it up to the organisation?

And you'd be the first to complain if something untoward happened. \

Clubs have rules, regulations and best practices. If you feel you must challenge it - then find another club run to your standards.

That's a bit OTT. My 15 year old has recently been on a school trip to Belgium and twice they were allowed free time in groups of three with the teachers sitting in a cafe drinking coffee and the kids exploring/shopping. Some of the kids on the trip are still 14 - mine is one of the older ones.

I don't think there's any legislation - it's a judgement call.

Maybe they have had issues before.

Each organisation will have safeguarding best practise advice. They will then risk assess for each event based on that.

I assume they require supervision for under 16s which although does seem OTT I can see why they would go for such a policy dependant on the group and/or location

That seems normal while under the supervision and thereby responsibility of the activity leaders. Afterwards an adult (17yo could count) can sign them out and they are free to do as they choose.

Normally I would say that YANBU but as it's their responsibility I don't blame them.

How do you know I'd be the first to complain? 🙄

When I was 12 I went on a school trip to Germany. We were dumped near the centre of Munich at 9 and told to be back there at 5. The boys went and bought bag fulls of cheap machetes and swords and spent the day having battles with them in a park - how none of them got killed is beyond me. How things change in 20 years!

Each organisation twill h

Ugh sorry posted too soon

Each organisation will have their own procedures and risk assessment.

Personally yes it does seem OTT that 15 year olds can’t go off in small groups, but perhaps they’ve had problems previously or complaints from parents about lack of supervision.

Bit much but while they are in loco parents they’re entitled to be cautious. So I guess if she chooses to go she has to accept their rules.

There will be a cut off age-probably 16.

When my dp was a football coach he had the same rule. Nothing to do with safeguarding in his case-just knowing from bitter experience tht the little buggers were always late back to the venue!

@fatsally you'd be surprised! I run a trip abroad for year 7s every year and at the drop off point there is a massive toy shop. Despite being told every year that there is no way we'd get that back going through customs, the boys, year in year out, run in and buy toy weapons and spend the day at the drop off point play fighting. 🙄

I agree OP, it seems a bit ott. We let 11 year olds go off on their own (back every hour for headcount). Maybe they have had a bad experience in the past or maybe they don't trust this particular group of kids not to run amok?

CheesecakeAddict Sat 07-Jul-18 10:02:45
you'd be surprised! I run a trip abroad for year 7s every year and at the drop off point there is a massive toy shop. Despite being told every year that there is no way we'd get that back going through customs, the boys, year in year out, run in and buy toy weapons and spend the day at the drop off point play fighting

have you considered changing your drop-off point?

Maybe it's because of trouble on previous trips?

A colleague's daughter is a teacher who accompanies a lot of school trips - there are often one or two apparently bent on causing or getting into trouble - including once shoplifting and getting caught! - so I do understand caution.

As for how things change, after a lot of agonising, another mother and I
allowed our dds at 13 to go on an unaccompanied day trip, London to Calais, by train and ferry. They wanted an 'adventure' and to practise their French.
We were having kittens till they were safely back, but it was fine.
It was over 20 years ago - I can't think I'd ever allow it now!

I run a youth group, and have a kid in the same age group.

I am significantly more cautious with groups of other people’s children than I am my own. Not least because I know my kid, and she’s fairly predictable.

DS2 went on a trip to Spain in, I think, Y3 where they were expected to find their own way (in threes) from their host accommodation to the language college each day.

It seems ridiculously over protective but I guess the coaches have made to rules to suit them and their perception of risk.

YABU. They will have done a risk assessment, and if that assessment determines that 14/15 year-olds can't be unsupervised, then you either need to suck it up or not send her.

Clearly some kids in previous years have caused problems hence they have just tightened up the rules. Don't forget it is a hassle for them as well to keep an eye on teenagers who should be capable of looking after themselves.

Maybe they have a 15yo going who they feel is not safe to be unsupervised so they have the rule for all.

"When I was 12 I went on a school trip to Germany. We were dumped near the centre of Munich "

Yes, we were left to go around by ourselves in Stavanger in Norway at 12. Girls' choir though so no boys playing with machetes. The funny thing was that the families we stayed with in Stavanger were a bit surprised and I got the impression they wouldn't have left their 12 year old go by themselves and they lived there and knew their way around.
This was almost 30 years ago.
I was a bit of a loner at school so the rule to be in groups at 15 would have been a problem for me. How do you force teenagers to hang around together?

And you'd be the first to complain if something untoward happened.

Do you know the OP personally, otherwise that's a very strange assuption to make.

I host students OP, they come over here at 12 year old, barely speak a word or ENglish and their tutors allow them to wander London alone. We haven't lost one yet either.

This country is ridiculously risk averse on the whole with children. You see threads pop up about 17 and 18 year olds where the OP is unsure of "letting" them take a train on their own a few hours away.

Surely if you are on a trip with friends or team mates you would probably be in natural groups anyway?

I don't really have an issue with organised rules though. If I didn't like them they wouldn't be going in the first place.

DS2 went on a trip to Spain in, I think, Y3 where they were expected to find their own way (in threes) from their host accommodation to the language college each day

SoupDragon, I really hope that's a typo! They are 7 years old in Y3!

My ds went on a school trip to Spain in Y7. They were allowed to go out for short periods in groups of 3.

The sports club policy does sound a bit OTT but it might be set by their insurance company. Or based on previous bad experiences

Ah, I can see the confusion - DSs school use old fashioned numbering. Y9? Old 3rd year!