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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Trips in Reception cancelled probably UR

72 replies

PrincesAndPrincess · 20/12/2018 11:30

My DD started reception this year. Her two older brothers are already at the school so I know what trips they offer as they’re the same year in year out.

It’s a two form entry school. The other class is doing all the normal trips. DDs class are doing none - we were told this at the Reception parents welcome evening, they said there are trips available for children in Class B but unfortunately Class A aren't doing any this year.

I can guess why. There’s a child in a wheelchair in DDs class and all of the trips they go on would be inaccessible for the DC in the chair.

This isn’t a criticism of that child, I know the mother and the child well and the DC is lovely with no behaviour issues and is friends with my DD. I just feel sad that my DD won’t get to go on a train or a boat or similar with her classmates like her brothers did.

Probably UR as I know if the school could accommodate the DC in the chair they would, and are obviously taking the approach of “it’s better that none do it than 1 be left out” and that’s great. I just feel sad.

Not sure what I'm asking.

OP posts:
HoneysuckIejasmine · 20/12/2018 11:32

The school need to swap for accessible trips. And the bloody providers of the old trips need to sort themselves out and become accessible.

H1dingInSight · 20/12/2018 11:33

I think the school needs to find alternative trips that the WHOLE year can do, every last child.

Noonemournsthewicked · 20/12/2018 11:34

That is unusual tbh. 2 form entry year groups often go on trips altogether. If a usual trip couldn't be accommodated we would book elsewhere or as a year group wouldn't go anywhere. Children in both classes should have equality of opportunity.

Notquiteagandt · 20/12/2018 11:35

This sounds like its setting the poor child up to have alot of resentmemt towards them. Which seems even crueler. Should be whole year or nothing.

Surely some thought can go into accessible trips?

Original poster
PrincesAndPrincess · 20/12/2018 11:35

Usually the classes go together or for smaller trips, 15 of one class go with 15 of the other and then the remaining 30 go on another day.

OP posts:
Beamur · 20/12/2018 11:35

That's rubbish. School should be doing trips that are accessible to all their pupils. I'm really surprised they think this is a good idea.

Sirzy · 20/12/2018 11:35

School need to reconsider their trips to make them accessible. Even if that means working with parents with regards to transport most Venues are wheelchair accessible with the right planning

JohnCRaven · 20/12/2018 11:36

The scenario you describe is definitely unreasonable. Regardless of the actual reason half a year having trips and half not is unfair. Completely and utterly indefensible.

MrsJayy · 20/12/2018 11:37

What trips are not accesible (sp) for the kid where do they go thata 5 year old child who usesa wheelchair can't get ?

Hoppinggreen · 20/12/2018 11:37

Totally unacceptable
Speak to The Head to clarify why this is and if it is for the reason you think then complain. If that doesn’t get you anywhere Governors

Philomensapie · 20/12/2018 11:38

My DC don't even have a wheelchair accessible school. Xmas Sad

Dimsumlosesum · 20/12/2018 11:38

That's rubbish. Totally don't blame the poor kid in the wheelchair - the school need to sort out an accessible trip, and it's crazy they haven't had the forethought to do this before.

MrsJayy · 20/12/2018 11:39

Did not 1 A class parent question this if not why not the B class gets to go would surely have most parents irritated enough to question it.

Original poster
PrincesAndPrincess · 20/12/2018 11:40

The train ride one isn't easily changed.

They walk to the station, talk to someone and then have a ride on a train to the next stop along then get back on the train back to first station and then back to school.

It's just over a miles walk and then the platform itself isn't accessible, it's up a set of steep stairs with no lift.

The boat ride wouldn't easily be accessible either as it takes place at a reservoir which has uneven ground and steps to get down to the boat.

OP posts:
Original poster
PrincesAndPrincess · 20/12/2018 11:41

People did question it at the parents evening but the head just said they couldn't discuss the reasons why class A go but class B don't.

OP posts:
user1474894224 · 20/12/2018 11:41

This is definitely not on. Please clarify if this is correct before going in all guns blazing....but then you should. ALL children should have the same opportunities. Why should one class benefit with a better quality of education over and above the other class. If the trios are not necessary then then the other class shouldn't be going. The school should find trips that are available and accessible to all. It's really not that hard. Please follow school complaints procedure to complain.

babycatcher411 · 20/12/2018 11:42

I’d be amazed if this isn’t classed as disability discrimination. They need to seriously look at the way they are handling these trips, surely they can’t anticipate forever not sending that child’s class on trips instead of finding accessible alternatives

halcyondays · 20/12/2018 11:43

Can they not organise some kind of trip that would be accessible instead of their usual ones, for the whole year group?

Sirzy · 20/12/2018 11:43

Then nobody does those trips and they find alternatives which are accessible!

user1474894224 · 20/12/2018 11:45

Sorry just seen your update. They absolutely should justify why one class can go and one can't. You need to make this formal. If there is no joy through the channels take the complaint right up to the governors. I am a governor and I would be absolutely horrified if one class was able to do a trip and not another. I would also be horrified if we weren't making reasonable adjustments to make the education accessible to all. It's not that hard to book a coach to take the kids to an accessible station.......(yes it might cost a few pounds more....but tough.....if parents want their kids to go then they would need to pay....).

WrapAndRoll · 20/12/2018 11:45

That's outrageous and YANBU!

jessstan2 · 20/12/2018 11:47

What everyone else has said about accessibility.

I don't see walking to a railway station, going one stop on a train, as much of a trip though, frankly. Nor the boat on the reservoir.

My idea of a trip is going out somewhere interesting for a day.

Mummyshark2018 · 20/12/2018 11:49

That is ridiculous, if it is fit the reason you gave. A train station should be accessible, and the school should ensure that school trips are accessible to all. In this day and age it is really not that hard to accommodate everyone and make adjustments. I was recently in Disneyland and people with disabilities are very well taken care off!

halcyondays · 20/12/2018 11:50

Our school has never done that kind of trip anyway. Usually they get a coach that takes them to a place of interest related to their topic.

HeffalumpsDaughter · 20/12/2018 11:51

There’s a huge castle local to us that does a lot of school trips that is pretty much totally inaccessible by wheelchair. I can imagine a lot of trips to historic properties would be accessible if they just stayed on the ground floor or something. But I totally agree they shouldn’t be doing trips to places that aren’t wheelchair friendly. It’s completely unfair on everyone, particularly the poor kid in the wheelchair. The other kids might not realise it’s cancelled due to this child yet but if they do it every year they’ll pick up on it.