Trips in Reception cancelled probably UR

[PrincesAndPrincess]

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.

At the moment, you don't actually know that this is the reason, do you?

If I were the Reception teacher concerned, I'd be talking to the other Reception teacher about what trips we could be doing this year, or even putting them into the schedule permanently so that if this situation arises again, with another child, they can be integrated seamlessly.
At the moment, the little wheelchair user is probably fairly oblivious to being the "cause " of his classmates missing out, but guilt and resentment will become an ongoing issue as he moves through the school.
It's very easy to fall into a pattern of "These are the trips that Y1/Y6 always do"; you get to know from experience what works well and work out a practised routine, but sometimes you need to question that "we always do that" as circumstances change.
Just off the top of my head; our pupils loved it when "The Animal Man" (not outing, he does lots of schools) visited us with his collection of interesting and exotic animals. No leaving the premises required.
It hasn't always been "traditional"; somebody had those good ideas back in the day (sounds like two nice trips!) and did it for the first time.

If the trips are curriculum based, every child should go. If not, and they’re just a class jolly, I’d be asking what extra-curricular activities have been arranged for Class B.

They’re meant to make reasonable adjustments for children with disabilities (have been through a bitter court battle with the school about this). Trips should be changed if they can not accommodate the child with the disability. What does the mum say?

Surely there is another station they can go to to do a train ride where both ends of the journey have accessible stations? Or another trip they could do where the location is wheelchair accessible? What a shame for all the kids.

Unacceptable. Will class A be staying back for every trip all through school? No residential trips? No days out at all? What kind of education is that?

If that really is the reason, and I can well believe it is that's terrible. What is it going to achieve other than the poor child who they are trying not to upset bearing the brunt of everyone s frustration at the whole class missing out.

Even if there is little that could be done to make those particular trip accessable to that particular child's needs (I have to wonder what discussion has happened with the family and the venues) surely there are other trips which the whole year group could do.

I actually hope the parents of the child threaten (and if needed follow through) legal action for disability discrimination

They mix the classes up as they move through school so assume they'll make it so that everyone can go.

It's only reception ones. I know they go to places in years 1 and 2 that are accessible. I don't have a child in year 3 or above yet so don't know about those trips.

What? This simply isn't acceptable. It is disability discrimination as pp said. There is a wheelchair using child in my DC's class and it took some pushing from their parents but they have been on every class trip, including a trip to a beach.

if the school could accommodate the DC in the chair they would

They don't sound like they've tried. There are solutions to these things, because there have to be for other people. For instance:

the platform itself isn't accessible, it's up a set of steep stairs with no lift

So how does that station serve any wheelchair using passenger? They have to have a way, they can't just say 'don't get off here if you're disabled!' Public services have had to deal with these issues for years now. Lazy of the school (or on someone's part) to just say it can't be done.

I cant see how they will go on like this through school surely next year they would have to switch that child so all that class go in yr 1. Noone would want the disabled child in their class especially if that year is one where the trips are really good.
The school could surely go to a different station. I expect the station would have some way of getting a disabled person up/down steps as sometimes you end up at an unexpected place.
Could they do a bus trip instead?

Sounds like your school needs to come up with some better and more accessible trips tbh. Didn't think " having a train ride" has counted as an educational activity since 1930.

At our school reception have 1 trip, to the local butterfly house to fit in with their "living and growing topic". There is a child who uses a wheelchair at the school now and they've adapted and changed all sorts of things to help him participate in school life as much as possible. School trips can easily be changed.

So how does that station serve any wheelchair using passenger?

There is a sign by the station (I've used it) which says that pushchair and wheelchair users are advised to go to the next nearest station which is 10 miles away as this station isn't staffed. The person who takes them on the train and talks to them is a volunteer from the local library and has no connection to the trains or station.

So you think nobody is going to lift a 5year old and her wheelchair onto a boat I think if you are assuming it iscthe little kid then you are going to have to challange the school about it or say to the parents of the child they may not be aware the school is so shit that they wont accomodate the children because of a child in a wheelchair.

This is absolutely ridiculous and potentially discrimination by association. Your child is suffering a detriment because there is a child in her class with a disability.

Its completely unfair that one class gets to go and the other doesn't. My DS would have been so upset in this scenario. It absolutely unfair.

They either need to find a way that the child in the wheelchair can go on the trips, or find different trips for the whole year group.

I'd never normally say this but I'd be complaining to the governors.

I presume the topic is transport? Cant they do something different this year. There are loads of transport museums and other train stations or places with boats surely. To be honest the best thing about transport is it moves so something could swing buy the school like an old bus.

"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."

They could arrange accessible trips.

Find out the reason and then get the Parents together.

It's lazy on the Schools part and discriminatory.

It's an opportunity for the Teachers to widen their thinking. I've worked in disabilities and cared for my wheelchair using relatives. It was only listed buildings that was an issue.

Every child should be able to take part in the curriculum.

But, I can guarantee that you won't feel as sad as the other child's Mother will, as your children grow.

Have some empathy and rather than guess, actually find out what's going on.

If the topic is transport then get a bus to the accessible station!

Anything is possible with a bit of planning.

"something could swing buy the school like an old bus."

We have plenty of Teachers on here. It used to be that they could tap into an extra budget/funding source if changes had to be made to accommodate a disabled pupil.

Which could go on hiring a mini bus and getting to the other station.

Something to be put to the PTA and Governers as well.

After all, any child could be in a RTA etc and become a wheelchair user.

If i were the parent of the disabled child, I would be unhappy too.
This is discriminatory.
Surely the parent governor can speak up on the school 's decision if they were approached?
Why not make a number of suggestions for visits, zoos, wildlife parks, theatre trips, etc.?

As soon as one of the Reception parents says to their DC that they can’t go on trips because someone is in a wheelchair all the other children will know about it and blame him (they are 4!). Stupid decision from the school.

Go to governors. This is absurd. There are all sorts of trips the kids could go on.

That’s appalling and completely unacceptable on so many levels. As a teacher and a parent and a human being, I’d be kicking up a fuss and asking questions. The school should certainly be thinking about alternative provision for the whole class, or year group, with the aim of inclusion as a priority. What’s currently occurring is just wrong.

I'd def push harder to find out why, even if it means making a complaint to the head. If they then say "because we cannot accommodate X" then X's Mum can make a case for discrimination but also you can challenge the school on their stupid, ignorant, narrow minded thinking.

DS has a disability, if school thought an activity was unsuitable for him I'd expect them to talk to me and come up with a solution together or an alternative.

Sorry but I'd be taking that up with the school. If accessibility is the reason then as others have said they need to change the trip. They've obviously known about this for a while so have had time to investigate and risk assess alternatives - they are just being lazy and discriminatory.

My own DD was wheelchair dependent and went on loads of trips (day and residential). They need to make reasonable adjustments - it's the law!

And yes there are such things as inaccessible railway stations - the one in my nearest town is only accessible in one direction. The other side of the track is reached by a footbridge with lots of steps. They only way around it is to go past your stop, get off at the next station (10 miles away) and cross the line there and wait for the next train back!