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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To complain to school about this?

57 replies

TripExclusionComplain · 14/02/2022 09:21

DD aged 6 year 2, just watched all her classmates (bar 1 or 2 but all of her friends) get on a bus to go on a school trip.

The letters where sent out 4 weeks ago when DD was off with covid, they were not emailed and there was no option on ParentPay to pay for it.

I only learned about the trip on Friday at a classmates birthday party. The deadline was last Monday and despite me offering there was no option for me to pay and send DD.

The letters where apparently put in DDs tray but as she was off for over a fortnight and the trays are emptied on a Friday so DD never got the letter.

According to the teacher (who I mentioned it to) places weren’t limited as there’s 2 year groups going.

There’s no provision in school for those who aren’t going on the trip as it was assumed that everyone would go. There’s about 5 kids (out of 180ish) left across the two year groups, none of DDs friends and she’s gutted. I’ve been told DD will be put in a class that has room and made to follow their lessons, she has some SN and an adjusted curriculum due to that so will not be getting anything out of a lesson with another year group (It’s years 1 and 2 going, she won’t be put in Reception so it’ll be Year 3, 4 or 5 she’s put with)

All previous trips the letters have been emailed as well as sent out via trays/bags and even when DDs been off over the deadline, an email giving permission has always been accepted and I always had the option of paying via parentpay (and they’d accept payment as permission to go) or cash to the receptionist.

So AIBU to complain about how unfair this was handled?

To add DDs SN does not cause behaviour issues, her teacher labels her a sweetheart, everyones friend and a bit chatty but nothing unusual for this age. I do not think that her SN is the reason she’s been excluded as she’s been on previous trips (admittedly in Reception) which were pre-diagnosis and she behaved incredibly well her teacher at the time said she was less trouble than some of the NT DC on the trip (school suspected her SN before she was diagnosed).

OP posts:

DiddyHeck · 14/02/2022 16:25

Why would it be deliberate?

LuckySnips · 14/02/2022 16:28

I guess they were hoping 10 ... somehow... wouldn't be able to make it? Was there a cost or any reason to believe 10 would choose not to come (but also not to have any teaching provision for them)?!

Maybe they were allowing for sickness/covid... but they would still have needed forms from everyone on the "reserve" list?

Funkyslippers · 14/02/2022 16:39

Complain! This is unacceptable. When schools were reopening slowly after 1st lockdown I filled in a survey to say my DD would be coming back, they didn't ask for names at that point. They then sent out an email asking for us to confirm names of who was coming back but sadly only sent it to one of the classes, not the other (DDS class). I only heard through the grapevine and the head teacher then said my DD would be put in an 'overflow' group without her friends. I told them in no uncertain terms I expected her to be put with her friends and it was their mistake. As so many parents hadn't seen the email they were able to shift things around so it was fine in the end. I realise it's too late for your situation but someone needs to take ownership of the mistake

ChessieFL · 14/02/2022 16:45

Yeah that’s crap of the school and I wouldn’t be happy. The limited places excuse sounds like arse covering to me.

NeverTouchWarmPants · 14/02/2022 16:51

Limited spaces is irrelevant. It should be open to all and stated its on a first come bases, so everyone had a chance to respond
Not good enough

lumpofcomfort · 14/02/2022 16:52

That's so bad. I work in a primary school and the admin team chase up anyone who hasn't given permission. I would definitely complain.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 14/02/2022 16:56

I would have been furious.

Does your school not do a weekly newsletter or anything where they put basic info about upcoming trips or special days?

They should have sent out letters and emails to cover the all the bases and let those who wanted to go go. Not good enough.

lumpofcomfort · 14/02/2022 16:57

Primary schools should not be booking trips where a handful of kids have been left out. If someone did that it was a mistake. Probably someone counted up the numbers who had replied and decided they would get fewer coaches based on that without checking. Whatever has happened, it's not acceptable.

Original poster

TripExclusionComplain · 14/02/2022 16:58

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea

I would have been furious.

Does your school not do a weekly newsletter or anything where they put basic info about upcoming trips or special days?

They should have sent out letters and emails to cover the all the bases and let those who wanted to go go. Not good enough.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea We usually get a newsletter every 2 weeks or so, sometimes more often but I got nothing at all while she was off with Covid, not even the usual texts about pick up points when it's raining.

I've had emails and texts since she went back so I'm assuming we were temporarily removed from the lists due to having covid.

OP posts:

Butteredtoast55 · 14/02/2022 17:01

Why on earth would you be removed from a contact list because your DD had Covid? That makes no sense at all.

Original poster

TripExclusionComplain · 14/02/2022 17:03

@Butteredtoast55

Why on earth would you be removed from a contact list because your DD had Covid? That makes no sense at all.

@Butteredtoast55 Thats what I'm assuming it might not be true, but I didn't get a single text or email at all while she was off, the texts are usually every few days to remind about pick up points when it's raining or because they need to take some yogurt pots in or because they need to dress like a pirate (not real examples).

OP posts:

Userno574328537 · 14/02/2022 17:04

Shocking. Teachers should not rely on letters being taken home for trips etc, especially when children have been off poorly. My kids school tend to send texts about it to check for letters, emails or parent pay as you say.

The school should have chased you up about it if no consent form or payment had been taken from you - because she was off!!

Shocking organisation and management from the school!

I would definitely complain! I mean it won't change anything now but might teach them to be more organised.

lumpofcomfort · 14/02/2022 17:21

Teachers should not rely on letters being taken home for trips etc, especially when children have been off poorly

Administrative arrangements for trios should not be the responsibility of class teachers at all. It should be managed by the office staff who keep track of responses.

lumpofcomfort · 14/02/2022 17:21

trips

CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal · 14/02/2022 17:26

I appreciate it’s a bit late now, but I wouldn’t have left her in school if I was you, she would have come straight back home with me. We’ve recently taken the entire school
On a trip and we chased and chased every single family to make sure no one missed out, including all of those who were off with Covid and those who couldn’t afford it. What your school has done is awful.

Original poster

TripExclusionComplain · 14/02/2022 17:31

@CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal

I appreciate it’s a bit late now, but I wouldn’t have left her in school if I was you, she would have come straight back home with me. We’ve recently taken the entire school On a trip and we chased and chased every single family to make sure no one missed out, including all of those who were off with Covid and those who couldn’t afford it. What your school has done is awful.

@CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal Unfortunately I had to work so had no choice but to leave her as I have no childcare, and I don't get paid if i don't work.

OP posts:

Oblomov22 · 14/02/2022 17:37

This is disgusting. So poor.

NellyDElephant · 14/02/2022 17:38

Speaking from the opposite side of the fence, so to speak, it is incredibly annoying to have to chase and chase and nag and remind parents who don’t give permission for their child to go on trips - however, we haven’t yet left a single child behind. It’s a small primary school I work at, we are relentless at chasing for permission - we really don’t want the child to miss out, we are on the phone on the morning of trips, chasing up the last few, for, at the very least, verbal permission to take them. We send an email version of the trip letter, a paper copy of letter, electronic version on classdojo and then individual reminders x 3 at least, in the weeks/days before the trip. It’s a full-time job!
Op, in this instance, I think your school have been really crap, and I would complain. I’d like to see their criteria for choosing the places!

ouch321 · 14/02/2022 17:43

It's really not that big a deal. It's not like missing a class trip in year 2 is going to ruin her life chances.

Headteacher415 · 14/02/2022 17:54

What was the trip? It's highly unusual for a school to not be able to take extra children. We've only had this once ... theatre trip booked months in advance and suddenly 5 extra children joined. The newbies were the ones who couldn't go. The communication is an oversight and needs tightening up. Booking not enough places is the real complaint ... someone was always going to be disappointed

Original poster

TripExclusionComplain · 14/02/2022 18:03

@Headteacher415

@Headteacher415 It was to a local history re-enactment, Year 2 are currently studying it and Year 1 will do it next year so they both go. They do the trip every 2 years for that reason.

The kids get involved in it and get to dress up and things.

OP posts:

Headteacher415 · 14/02/2022 19:33

Yes, I can't see any scenario where this trip wasn't booked not knowing that there would be a limit. Make an appointment to speak to headteacher, as your child has missed out on learning. Year 5 is not the right place for a KS1 child either!

endlesssighing · 14/02/2022 19:44

The situation is appalling and I think the response makes it worse.

Respond and state you appreciate the spaces are limited but can she direct you to the policies that outline where absent children are to be immediately stricken from the trip's consideration.

Because that's what she's essentially said.

Additionally, outline how this has caused extreme distress to your child, both on an emotional level and confused her and frustrated her in relation to her additional needs as her daily routine was completely turned on its head both in her educational setting and by having no social contact as all her friends were on the trip she had been purposely excluded from. What policy are they going to implement so this doesn't happen again.

You've been given a pack of lies. Someone's fucked up, not sent an email and is now desperately trying to cover their tracks.

Original poster

TripExclusionComplain · 14/02/2022 19:49

@endlesssighing

The situation is appalling and I think the response makes it worse.

Respond and state you appreciate the spaces are limited but can she direct you to the policies that outline where absent children are to be immediately stricken from the trip's consideration.

Because that's what she's essentially said.

You've been given a pack of lies. Someone's fucked up, not sent an email and is now desperately trying to cover their tracks.

@endlesssighing That's what I suspect, they either only counted the number of responses and didn't chase up or they forgot or had a technical issue that meant they didn't send the email out so those that were absent when the letters went out missed out.

OP posts:

MrsTophamHat · 14/02/2022 19:56

I'm normally quick to defend schools but this is poor. There should have been ideally a phonecall or at least an email from the admin staff chasing it up. I say that as someone working in secondary - I've gone and knocked on doors trying to get permission slips signed before.

I do think communication can be inconsistent though. I've had a letter about an upcoming trip sent home in the book bag. There's been nothing on the app or parentpay about it. I can see how things get missed.

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