Forest school only for 'select' children

[Eyelashesrgreat]

Ds in Y3 and his school have recently 'selected' children from his class to go to forest school. The children do this weekly whilst the other children have to stay at school and do work. The children (selected) get to wear their own clothes that day and have treats.

The school did the same thing last year and ds wasn't chosen then. Ds has had a really difficult time recently at school and would have loved to have been selected for this activity. I asked his teacher if all the children will eventually get their turn at the forest school but she has said only certain children can go. AIBU to think this is a bit unfair?

Children who have behavioural needs (not sure if that's the right term) behave like they do for a reason. They may have problems with communication and get (understandably) frustrated, they may have suffered a traumatic time or have problems at home. Also the interventions they have aren't a treat, they are therapy. It's not a case of a child behaving badly for no reason and getting rewarded.

Very true about it being needed not disagreeing with that at all but it’s still a shame for the children that don’t get nice things because they don’t stand out in some way. I think forest school should be offered to all.

And of course their behaviour is for a reason.

I can't believe how many posters are resentful of a child with additional needs.

I have 2 children, one who requires intervention due to him being non verbal and my other child just generally fits into the school day with no extra requirements.

My youngest does extra activities within the school day to help him become the confident kid we see at home. As a PP mentioned, it's not a treat it's a form of therapy. So please stop being so judgemental as I would not wish this on my eldest.

Everyone has the right to flourish in school, for me that is what equality is about!

Maybe you could do some fundraising then @jumperoozles Because in many schools it will likely be a case of forest school for all or books for all, budgets are so tight

Yes I’m aware budgets are tight and I think you think I’m anti additional support? Just to be clear - I completely agree with all the wonderful support schools do for each child whether that’s play therapy, forest school, SALT etc I am not saying all children should go to all of it 🙈every child has different needs. Forest school is a little different as ALL children could gain so much from it and most schools have classes go on rotation. It’s a shame in the OPs case her child hasn’t had that opportunity at all.

This is awful - our school can't take them all in the same term so it's rotated so they each get a turn during the year. I'd complain and if the staff don't take any notice, approach the governors. I am a school governor and wouldn't support this approach in the schools I look after.

So if there isn't sufficient budget @SmallestInTheClass what would you suggest is cut?

No child is entitled to everything educationally that is advantageous for them. Those of us that have children with additional needs hear this constantly from the LA whenever we ask for any support for our children.

Exactly.

DD has 'behavioural needs' because she has PTSD due to her early years with her birth family. There are times she gets triggered into survival mode.

But of course, she shouldn't get the therapy she needs because other children might be jealous of the 'treat' of the therapeutic intervention. What a shame they can't share the PTSD that makes them eligible for therapy as well, that's not fair...

Suggestion for those who complain that their child is being deprived of 'treats' because they don't have any special needs:

Abuse them until they have PTSD. Then they will qualify for all the treats and extra help that is 'unfair' when other children have it.

Simple.

@Runnerbeansflower It beggars belief that someone would be jealous of a child who gets extra help because they have ptsd. I have ptsd as an adult from watching my son be resuscitated. I cannot begin to imagine the trauma your dd must have suffered.

I would like to say it beggars belief but I think we have all experienced other parents who are jealous of the support but strangely don’t want to take on the extra issues which lead to that support.

some people seem to define equality as “what benefits my child”

@Sirzy I shouldn't be that shocked really as I have experienced lots of people being jealous of DS's blue badge (when he had one) and not having to queue at legoland. Being jealous of a child who has ptsd is a new one for me though.

Sometimes I wish there was a way to make people understand how hard it is to get the support/interventions for children who desperately need it. In an ideal world all children would have forest school and all children who have mild SEN would have an EHCP with lots of funding and interventions. But with funding issues that isn't going to happen and priority for these things rightly goes to the children who need it most.

OP I'm sorry you had such horrible replies here. I feel for you and I can totally believe that teachers have their favourites that they constantly reward.

Forest School is something that ALL pupils in our local schools participate in.

Please don’t spout nonsense.

It is part of our school’s timetable and sometimes incorporates other subjects.

Some schools do forest school for all children. It depends on budgets and funding. Schools have to decide how best to spend their money that is left over once the bare minimum has been paid for. My dc's school has always prioritized staff so that each class will have at least 1 teaching assistant. Some schools will spend more money on swimming, equipment, facilities etc. My dc's school did forest school for all pupils a few years ago. They no longer do forest school but they do have an amazing nurture room with sensory equipment in which is brilliant for the children like my younger 2 dc who need that facility. Another school local to me have their own softplay area and some schools have their own swimming pool or fancy playground equipment. Some schools will have more money than others because of how successful their fundraising is or if they ask for (and get!) donations from parents. My dc school is c of e so I think they get a small amount of money from the church too but I'm not sure about that.