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?

@GetThatHelmetOn this could explain it, it's a mystery otherwise. I think because it's the second year it's happened I have wondered more about why just a select group.

It's well known for being a very cliquey school, that if your face doesn't fit you don't get chosen for things. Everyone knows everyone's business so really don't think I'm being petty here. The SENCO herself told me that there are two children with SEN.

Well, it's your decision to have your son in this school. Even if it means travelling or moving house I wouldn't. Why would you keep your DS in a cliquey dump where the staff are unprofessional and he's being bullied?

@Eyelashesrgreat
The SENCO herself told me that there are two children with SEN
Utter rubbish! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
No SENCO would tell you that. You’re making yourself sound more petty and pathetic every time you post.

It's very unlikely that the teacher has chosen their favourites to go. If it was their choice they would want to keep her favourites with them and have a nice easy day in class and send the more disruptive elements out.
I can see that it feels very unfair on the surface but I think you are a little naive to think that you know all there is to know about every child and their needs, even in a small village school.

I did not say this. They are not from difficult backgrounds at all! Read my posts and you will see that none of these children have any issues!

I know you didn't say it, i was responding to the poster who did. You seem to have made an unlucky choice of school for your DS.

He's been there since reception, lost all confidence (from being a bright bubbly boy to a shadow of himself). I am considering moving him for lots of reasons but have hung on in there thinking it might improve after talks with the school. I'm not saying it's a 'dump' it's just been upsetting to see how sone children are favoured and others aren't.

If the teachers really are selecting the children who it has no benefit to, then take it further and query what the criteria is for Forest School.

Just to add though, I have a child with selective mutism but this is not something I would discuss with a parent in the playground. So you may outwardly think my kid was confident and I may tell you he is confident because in some situations he is but the rest, without meaning to be rude is not the business of anyone else!

Move schools if they really are that unprofessional and I don't know if there's some sort of regulator that might be interested if the staff are gossiping.

Surely the only fair thing to do is rotate who goes?

@LadyPenelope68 I sat in a meeting with the SENCO and she absolutely told me this. Stop calling me a liar. I've absolutely no reason to lie, there's no reason why I would run around telling other people this information!

Of course it's unfair. It's understandable there's limited places but it doesn't sound like it's a fair system.

usually in my kids school, if a group of kids are going out to do something something will be put on at school for the rest staying.

recently, half the school when to some sports event at another school. The school out on their own species event for the other half!

And that's a sure way to increase their confidence, isn't it?
Unbelievable.

At my dc's school all children were given the opportunity to go to forest school. It's very important for the development of all the children particularly those who struggle. I would email the head and governors asking why some children were excluded. Back it up with evidence of the benifits for whole class inclusion including team building skills.

Then move him. You clearly don't rate the school.

Have a look on the website and look up their Pupil Premium report, it might mention Forest school on there.

it might be something to do with Thrive programme or similar (but then I would expect your DC to be invited on the trips)

I’m amazed that the SENDCo told you how many are on SEN register unless you are a governor.

Governor minutes might also be a source of information

You are sounding ridiculous...stop now! Your are simply embarrassing yourself!

God some people have got so irate about something that doesn't concern them. How weird. Go get some fresh air guys 😂😂

@toomuchlaundry yes that might be helpful. There may be some other initiative that I'm unaware of.

You actually don’t know whether the children have any issues or not.

It would be utterly bizarre for this to only be children who are the teacher’s favourites but I’m not saying it’s impossible. You may be right.

However it’s naive to imagine you’re totally privy to all the problems going on in the families. No one can say that with certainty. I have looked at children who seem happy, settled, confident, high ability etc and then when they come into my class suddenly at handover I’m told they have a child protection file. It’s not necessarily about SEN, and you would never be told by a member of staff that it was why it was happening because it’s none of your business!

No one here can tell you what the reason for these children being chosen is, and maybe you’re right, but as a wider thing I think it’s silly to pretend you could know what’s going on.

If that's true, that was very unprofessional of them. But I'd question what they mean by that - is it just two children with EHCPs, or only two with any sort of SEN at all? If the latter, again I would be sceptical, as that would be a pretty tiny proportion compared with most schools - especially bearing in mind that SEN covers not strictly academic difficulties, but also covers, e.g, anxiety, speech problems, physical disability, sensory difficulties etc.

Umm, you do know that Forest School isn't just for any kid?! It's specifically for those with needs. I work with a child who goes and child has Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, ADHD, Global Developmental Delay, etc.
To say that your teacher is able to pick her favourites to go is absolute nonsense. There will be select criteria.
Some of these posts are so entitled!

Think the average is 12% pupils who receive SEN support excluding EHCPs

I know the parents, were all friends, close and very much talk openly so yes I do know if people are having problems. They know about mine too.

I’ve worked in schools and been involved in Forest Schools.
In every case this has been the criteria.

They can't. They weren't invited to forest school.