To think my child should be guaranteed a place in beavers?

[TheQueenInTheNorth]

I'm a cub leader at our local scout group and have children already spread out amongst the sections. My youngest is finally old enough to join her sibling in beavers which has been talked about by other leaders and assumed she would be starting as soon as she was of age, she has even taken part with beavers with me as I've had childcare issues. Other times I've had her with me in cubs and as she has special needs, she's been a handful with being bored in an older age group, which has made it more difficult for me in my role as a leader. I have now been told that there in no space for her in the beaver group and I can't help thinking that she should have already been on a waiting list and should have a slight advantage with her siblings being part of the group and her mother being a leader

Yes you should get priority as a leader. Surely the beaver leader was aware that your DC was coming up to that age? And surely they can just squeeze them in as our headcount isn't fixed?

You have to put their name on the list. There shouldn't be an advantage from you being a leader though because it's not fair on the other children who were on the list.

Yes there should be priority for leaders children schools. Otherwise the group wouldn't have leaders to run them - I wouldn't have left my DS at home (with childcare?) while running a group full of other people's children.

But you arent a beaver leader are you? It sounds like you are a cub leader. Therefore surely her guaranteed place should be at cubs with you?

No they have children on the waiting list who are joining in january so they are not full to capacity yet but will be when these other children join. I have volunteered there for 3 years and have even paid for childcare in the past to go on camps, marches, etc. I am honestly considering walking and have even mentioned to the gsl that I will need to step down for now

Yes she should be given a place. We’ve prioritised leaders children in the past.

There isn't a statutory limit (unless the venue has a maximum umber for fire regulations). We take as many as we feel we can manage (24) and that is agreed by the Exec, but we'd go over for a leaders child or a sibling.

They knew she was coming up in age, our group is a very close knit group and the beaver and cub sessions are in the same building but separate rooms at the same time

There are only so many spaces. If children haven’t moved up then there isn’t space.

In all honesty I would walk in your position. Being a leader should have guaranteed her a place, they knew she was waiting to join and there are spaces currently available.

I would walk on the basis they told you she would be starting in January and now they are saying she isn’t on the list.

Sounds like a miscommunication, you thought she was on the list and she wasn't.
Of course leaders kids should get priority. These are volunteers and really shouldn't have to also have to cover child care for their own kids whilst looking after other people's! Fairness really doesn't come into it.
If they don't budge I'd be looking to go to another unit which can take your DD.

Sounds really odd Queen - they must know you'd walk if your child wasn't allowed in?

Many (most?) groups Exec's will have a policy that states priority is given to {order listed, like you get for schools' admissions}. They almost always list 'child of a Leader' right up there as a top reason to jump a waiting list. Many (not all) will also have 'siblings' before new families too.
However if you have not put your dc on the waiting list, then you can't really expect them to be admitted.
IF you are the CSL, then surely you would have been aware of waiting lists, even if it is a fairly new phenomena at your group.

Am I unreasonable if I chuckled at the term "beavers"?

Sorry, are you a cub leader, or beaver leader. If beaver, then yes, you should get a place.

If cubS, then they should have made the position more clear.

I have been considering if it may be that now they have seem what her behaviour can be like that they are reluctant to take her on, she has learning difficulties and possible autism/dyspraxia and has also been diagnosed with hyper mobility so can struggle with her behaviour at times

Yes you are

Does her SN affect other people in any way? As disgusting and sad as it is, I wonder if that plays a part in any way. It certainly did for my child.

Yes I am a cub leader in the same unit as the beaver group my dd was meant to join

Sorry x-post

I’m a brownie leader. If I’d have been told there was no rainbow place At my feeder unit for dd at her 5th birthday, I’d have walked away. The rainbow leader went over her numbers to fit in her for me. There are very few perks for volunteers children. One of the very few perks available should be to skip the waiting list.

That's pretty cowardly if they're concerned about your DD's needs but have taken this tack rather than discuss with you.
I'm involved with Guides and they have both advice and additional support to help groups meet additional needs of their girls.
Are your other children girls/boys - perhaps transferring to Guides might be worth considering?

Maybe it was Mia-communication. You assumed dc was on the waiting list or would get a place, but they didn’t realise you wanted a place.

I think you talking to the other leaders about her joining IS putting her name on the list. Especially as you are a cubs leader.

You don't physically have to write her name on a physical list! Discussing when she'll be old enough to join is how parents, especially leaders, put their kids' names down.

I'd let them know you are no longer available to volunteer. I'd say they'd find a place for her pretty quickly.

Or do you think they are reluctant to take her because of her special needs?