To complain to school about this?

[TripExclusionComplain]

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).

@TripExclusionComplain

Update:

The teacher organising the trip spoke to me, she insisted places where limited and that's why there was no email or parentpay. It was "unfortunate" that DD missed out but one of those things.

Still feels a bit unfair on DD. They all came back at about 3pm talking about what they'd done.

It still feels a bit like it was deliberate. DDs got activities tonight so that should distract her.

She's had a bit of a boring day, apparently she was in Year 5 (the worst year she could of been put in) and didn't understand anything.

I would find that hard to believe. Limited spaces but yet 2 year groups could go apart from 5 children. Seems odd .

Awful. I would complain to the head. It is the teachers responsibility to give these letters out and chase too. I have a list of letters, invites etc for children who are absent then give to their parents when they are back in.

Have emailed the headteacher but also CCed in the chair of governors.

I said that while a deadline to respond is fine because of transport/confirming with the venue/lunches for those who're on FSM, it's not on to not give parents the choice to go and that I think reminder texts or emails should go out a few days before the deadline to give parents the chance.

DD isn't autistic but she is very set in her ways, she can and does cope with changes and absolutely loves experiencing new things. I know she'd have loved 99% of the trip and been on her best behaviour - she doesn't behave badly at school anyway - the only part she'd probably not take part in where the dressing up but I know her and I know she'd be cheering her friends on or helping the teacher take photos like she does on dress up days in school.

She's been left confused thinking she'd been punished for catching covid or worse something she's done in school - she has memory issues so won't remember - but having spoken to her teacher there was no reason she was aware of that DD couldn't go (I have already checked this).

It is not a trip but an educational isn’t to support curriculum delivery
I would email the head( ex Head) and ask why part of the curriculum was planned without enough provision for every child

Some nice quotes from the Ofsted handbook about an inclusive curriculum

Educational visit

You do not book a school trip with limited numbers which means some children cannot go. Unless the trip can include and cater for every single child in the class/year group, including those with additional needs, free school meals, financial constraints etc you do not book it. Who in there right mind would book a trip that can cater for 170 when there are 180 in the group. Id questions the intelligence of the person booking this to be honest. Hope its not the class teacher. Id be angry if I were you op. Nothing can be done now the day has passed but id want a satisfactory explanation as to why someone thought it was sensible to book a limited numbers trip and why only one letter was sent and not chased up.

Their