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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

KS1 expectations

49 replies

Threekidsdeep · 14/06/2022 09:41

I know it’s been tough for the teaching world the last couple of years but my DC school is ‘business as usual’ now (sports days, face to face parents evening, school clubs/swimming lessons for KS2 etc.), however my DC has been on 1 trip the whole school year (to a theatre 5 minutes away for 2 hours one morning- DC loved it! Cost £6.50)- Well 2 years for obvious reasons (covid) and only 1 club (sewing club that only lets 3 children on out of 80).

I asked at parents evening and the teacher assured me there was more planned but with the school year closing, there’s now nothing planned for the last term.

Does your KS1 children have many trips/extra curricular clubs at their school? DC goes to swimming lessons outside of school but wants to socialise with children from her school (home play dates are had but they’re hard for me because I have 2 under 2 aswell and DH works long hours so I’m on my own).

As DC is my oldest I’m not sure what to expect from school with regards to trips and school clubs.

OP posts:
Ohthatsexciting · 14/06/2022 09:42

Loads, and I really do mean loads
but it’s a prep school so not uncommon

Ohthatsexciting · 14/06/2022 09:43

I asked at parents evening and the teacher assured me there was more planned but with the school year closing, there’s now nothing planned for the last term.

So the teacher fibbed?

Mally100 · 14/06/2022 09:47

Ohthatsexciting · 14/06/2022 09:42

Loads, and I really do mean loads
but it’s a prep school so not uncommon

Same here. Ds is at a prep school and they have done loads this past school year - there is a trip out every month, lots of activities also brought into school, extra curricular going on as normal. I think using covid/restrictions is a bit of an excuse, things have been normal for a very long time now.

Summerwetordry · 14/06/2022 09:49

DGS&D are at a state school. They have so many trips.

notforonesecond · 14/06/2022 09:50

My Y1 is going to a zoo in a couple of weeks - that’ll be the first trip out of school she’s been on since starting reception.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/06/2022 09:56

Our school has just started clubs properly again this term.

Trips... its tricky as they are expensive. Even before fuel rises they could easily be £15-£20 per child and not all parents can afford it.

School swimming... neither of my children have had it. Yr6 and Yr4!

Fredthefrog · 14/06/2022 09:57

Some teachers are not great at planning trips . Cost/ lack of volunteers can put schools off. Might be more next year but this is something you could query more widely.
Clubs are not a teacher thing and if they don't have people who want to run them again this can be hard. I would send a query to the head/ deputy abiut that.

Simonjt · 14/06/2022 09:58

Our school seems to have a lot planned this term, they did have to re-arrange the year 6 residential as so many places are busier than usual.

My son is in year 2, he has a trip to a museum this week, next week they’re doing a day at a watersport centre to do kayaking etc. Year 2 RE trip to a local place of worship and then the year 2 residential.

Beaucoup · 14/06/2022 09:59

State School here. This year we've had -

Big trip to castle quite a way away.

Weekly post-school activities -
French club
Spanish Club
Tech club
Football club
Science club
LEGO club
Theatre and Dance club
Arts club

Sports Day

Farm visits x 2

Summer Fete

Christmas Market

fontime · 14/06/2022 10:00

Dd is in y2 they hav just had first school trip since nursery. But 1 a year is typical.

Marmite27 · 14/06/2022 10:00

DC in year 1 has had a trip each term. They’ve also had something come into school each half term.

There’s a different school club every day (more than one most days to cover each year group).

would your daughter like something like Beavers/Scouts or Rainbows/Brownies?

Outnumbered99 · 14/06/2022 10:03

I've been on 4 trips with my KS1 year this year, and clubs are as normal or thereabouts. Not sure on the swimming as that is done higher up the school but i know all residentials etc have taken place this year so no reason to think they haven't.
My school has plenty of volunteers, an active PTA etc which probably helps, teachers know if they plan a trip there will be support. Rather than go all guns blazing (not that I'm saying you would, but some parents definitely do!) and risk your relationship with school I would go with a constructive "can i help/what help is needed" type attitude

Original poster
Threekidsdeep · 14/06/2022 10:05

I get the cost thing, but a walk to the local woods or similar to what DC did last time - local community theatre which cost £6.50 and they all walked there and back which they loved. Also for low income families there’s extra school trip funding.

Its so hard because part of me doesn’t want to be that mum that moans but also can’t help but feel like DC is missing out, especially after the couple of years the kids have had.

OP posts:
InDubiousBattle · 14/06/2022 10:05

My dd is in year 2 and hasn't had a school trip this year (or ever!). When she asked about one she was told they'd be sorting something and the next week they went to the local park for an hour. My year 3 ds has had two local trips and an over night residential.

Sceptre86 · 14/06/2022 10:06

Our school have said they aim for 2 trips a year. One of those is panto and the other is related to a topic they are learning about. Its a state school in Scotland. After school club wise it's just football at the moment.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/06/2022 10:11

When did residential trips in Yr2-4 become a thing? (Another thing my Yr4&6 children have never had... Yr6 will have a 1 night camping trip next month.)

Heart78 · 14/06/2022 10:12

We’ve had one trip to the local park for DD who is in reception. DS who is in year 2 has never had any trips since starting school (and he even remembers that his trip to the local park got cancelled in reception because it was raining!) I guess it’s partly down to Covid.

They’ve had theatre groups come in to do plays etc but that’s about it. There are a couple of after school activity clubs but they fill up quickly (it’s a 3 form entry so 90 kids per year and maybe 20 spaces for each club), though there is a daily breakfast/after school club until 6pm.

Ohthatsexciting · 14/06/2022 10:15

Threekidsdeep · 14/06/2022 10:05

I get the cost thing, but a walk to the local woods or similar to what DC did last time - local community theatre which cost £6.50 and they all walked there and back which they loved. Also for low income families there’s extra school trip funding.

Its so hard because part of me doesn’t want to be that mum that moans but also can’t help but feel like DC is missing out, especially after the couple of years the kids have had.

But why would you “moan”

it’s about engaging with the school about issues you think would benefit the children

added to which a teacher told you lots planned, none of which seems to have happened!

Ohthatsexciting · 14/06/2022 10:16

The irony is that every trip and after school club at my prep school is included in the cost. They even provide the packed lunch and snacks whilst on trips out

Ohthatsexciting · 14/06/2022 10:17

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/06/2022 10:11

When did residential trips in Yr2-4 become a thing? (Another thing my Yr4&6 children have never had... Yr6 will have a 1 night camping trip next month.)

At my children schools they don’t do their first until year 6
never heard of earlier until the pp said year 2!

Ohthatsexciting · 14/06/2022 10:17

I would not have agreed to my year 2 going on a residential!

Summer1912 · 14/06/2022 10:19

Y1 only had 1 very local walk back in reception not sure whats happened there.usually there is a trip a year.
Y5 had nothing in y4 and had that moved to.y5 (activity centre) and had educational trip too.
Swimming - y5 had 5-6 in y3 and 1 and y5 and no more.
Other year groups have farm trips and had overnight activity centre trips.
So its been very uneven.

However my kids are in scouts and have had
nature walk beaver
Cycling beaver
Hiking cub
Fire station cub
Night hike cub
Caving cub
Archery cub
Nature walk cub

So that has balanced things out a bit.

Blueshimmer · 14/06/2022 10:37

State primary - there’s a different sport/hobby club after school four days a week, but can usually only take about 15-20 kids. If they want to go though most kids get an opportunity for a place at some point over the year.

There’s a curriculum related trip each term from y1 onwards, plus ad hoc walks, trips to playgrounds, theatre… I think my child has done 4 excursions so far this year, with 2 more planned before the end of the year.

And guess what - parents here moan about too many trips, costs… schools can’t win!

Ireolu · 14/06/2022 11:49

Reception child state school panto at Christmas, church trip around Christmas time. Zoo this week. Clubs tennis, gymnastics, street dance, football, French club. Christmas fairs, summer fairs, bake sales. Lots to get involved with at school.

DuringDinnerMints · 14/06/2022 12:02

Our school is taking the whole school to the seaside next week. They've had other trips this year too including the Christmas panto.

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