Would it BU to ask if it’s ok to do this at my daughters school?

[FamilyBusiness]

Hi all, it’s my little ones birthday in April, she will be six. Her birthday falls on a day she’s in school. My oldest son (10) is in same school, he is booked in for a feeding tube to be fitted (Cystic Fibrosis related) on the 18th of April. So we will be celebrating my daughters birthday a week early. But, WIBU to ask their school if I could pay for an educational animal visit for my daughter & her whole class for her birthday it’s a one hour visit.

As she has Autism & is going to be distraught that her brother is going in hospital (I’m dreading it) & I think it would really cheer her up & take her mind off it especially going in to school on her Bday knowing her brother isn’t there that day. Even though we will be celebrating together the week before, he will be in hospital at the time & so she won’t see him in school that day.

I don’t want to email the headteacher if it’s a bad idea, it will be an educational visit with bunny’s, birds, insects, etc etc. Thanks

But the school regularly have the animal people come and visit. It’s not new.

I think it’s worth asking the school, but I do think it would need to be for the whole year group, not just your DD’s class.

It's always worth asking, I hope they say yes to such a lovely idea.

A party doesn't have to be on her actual birthday. The weekend before or after is what most people do. Have some friends over, if it's before her birthday, her brother could be there as well?
Tea, cake and pass the parcel. She celebrates and you mark her birthday.

Hire a hall and do it as a party like everyone else has to.

To anyone worried about "all the paperwork", schools have been running trips and organising visits for years. Organisations who offer visits into schools will have packs ready to hand to schools to avoid every single school having to complete the same paperwork, containing things like risk assessments, details of DBS checks etc. It's standard for places who offer educational visits to do this.

I would ask in your case, just not put extra pressure if the school says no. I imagine different schools would approach such a request differently, no harm in asking. Schools are cash-strapped at the moment, so I paid-by-you experience for the children does not sound such a bad an idea to me. Wishing you all the best for your son's operation.

I work in a primary school and we have had these sorts of visits. The kids love them.
Speak to the Head. It usually has to be specific companies who are registered and cleared for educational visits. It will also have to be organised by the school for the risk assessment etc.

Other parents don't need to know it's come from/paid for by you with your daughter in mind.

We've also had visits from SSPCA (I'm in Scotland), a marine specialist (with video presentation) and a mini beasts show (mainly insects). It can all be tied in with various topics that the curriculum covers.

@Cliff1975 Ok mate.

@LondonPretty you’d heavily complain? I think you mean complain heavily.

Good grief. If there was a little girl with a birthday in my child’s class and adding to that their brother was having surgery I would never complain, I’d think it was a lovely idea. The school can always say no if it’s an admin hassle.

and @FamilyBusiness I hope your son’s operation goes smoothly with a quick recovery, you sound like a lovely kind mum xxx

Is the school just one class per year?

@artimesiasfootsteps Thank you. That means a lot XX

@SoupDragon Yes, once class per year.

I think ask politely, maybe by email so you’re not putting anyone on the spot, and be gracious if they say no. If you have a good relationship with the school I don’t think it would hurt.
And all good wishes for you and your son for his surgery.

You absolutely should ask!!

I'm a primary school teacher and a while ago our onsite nursery had a travelling farm visit. Their children were finished earlier than they thought so they rang us and asked if we'd like to come see the animals.

We literally abandoned our lesson, stuck our hats on and went straight off to see the animals! A year later and children still talk about the day a cow came to school!

Teachers are used to different things popping up and schools can't afford to give lots of extracurricular activities like this.

And as for parents being annoyed that their children are missing out on the curriculum? For one hour of an extracurricular activity? You'd hate to see how long it takes to prep for a Nativity, sports day, sharing assembly, young singers event etc etc!

I think you'd be better off asking the school than a load of randoms on the internet!

I think it's a really nice idea, and can't hurt to ask, can it? The worst that happens is that they say no and have a little chuckle in the office, but our school are lovely and I suspect they'd probably approve it but arrange it themselves and just get you to pay for it so it's 'legit'.

I hope everything goes well with your son's op @FamilyBusiness as well OP. Ignore the nasty posts can't fathom what their problem is.

I know a family who asked about doing this, and the school said yes, so it's worth asking whether they'd consider it. Their child was in reception, though, where the curriculum is a lot more flexible; year 1 might be more difficult.

OP you absolutely should ask. There is a real possibility the school will bite your hand off. Please don't make people talking about risk assessments that structured days for 6 year olds put you off. It may not be doable, but that is something for the school to decide.

I'm curious though - am I unusual as a parent of a child with additional needs in not being ok if a teacher disclosed these to other parents? It might be because mine are older now and so more likely to be embarrassed/want to control their own information more, but I would be upset if a teacher started talking about my child's needs with another parent.

Thank you X

I don’t expect them to do anything. I haven’t even asked them, it was literally just an idea. Which I’ve stated about twenty times in my replies. I’ve said I don’t expect the school to change curriculum, I don’t expect the school to pander for my daughter & actually, I’d love to have a birthday party for her like we do every year for the two kids but we can’t because of the obvious. Which im sure you know why we can’t but you’re choosing to pick apart my post.

Honestly I really can’t be bothered to explain myself. Read every reply I’ve said & you’ll see what I’ve said.

Okay, I’ll send her in under strict orders that she mustn’t even mutter a word of it being her birthday. Nobody can sing happy birthday, or even look at a cupcake or mention one. Nothing at all. Poker faced all day. Give over she’s 6. Every kid in her class brings in something on their birthday. It’s never once been an issue.

Tbh, I think many schools would welcome this as a nice opportunity for the children, as budgets have been so slashed. I definitely think you could ask about it. If they don’t want to, fair enough.

Which isn't what I said at all.

If you book them, would you be prepared to check their public liability insurance and DBS clearance, and complete a risk assessment? Would you be prepared to deal with the fall out from a child being bitten or peed on by an animal?

The place I’d have been hiring has came to their school quite a few times. They’re well known & liked at the school but I won’t be hiring them now anyway, I wasn’t planning on. I was just thinking about it. & yes they’re full insured etc. They specifically visit schools.