Someone complained about my child at sports day!

[SackRaceComplainer]

DC is 8, Y4. Has SN including dyspraxia.

For sports day every child has to take part. DC has some adjustments for sports day so they can fully take part.

Even with their adjustments they still come last in every race.

Someone has complained about the sack race and how my DC had an unfair advantage. DC started roughly half way along the track in their sack, had help to get in from staff (which the others didn’t) and then was picked up when they fell over while doing it whereas the others had to get themselves to their feet, DC had insisted they wanted to do this race – they were told they did not have to do it.

DC still came last and finished about 2 minutes after the other children they were racing. DC also fell through the finish ribbon thing onto the grass and had to be helped out.

And someones complained to the Governors about DC starting in a different place and that giving them an unfair advantage even though my child came last. Apparently starting half way along the track was an advantage.

Apparently it was taken straight to the governors, and I was informed as I was asked by the HT if she could share with the governors why DC started where they did because it’ll help the governors to decide if it’s an Reasonable Adjustment for DCs condition or whether in future all children start in the same place - I was just picking DC up for an appointment and was told this. HT says she doesn't agree it was an advantage.

My DC struggles enough as it is, just being upright is hard for them and now someone is complaining. DC was thrilled to even finish the sack race, they don’t care where they placed! The person who complained as a child in my DCs class – as it's been mentioned by name on the class whatsapp, and they’ve been together since Reception so said parent will have a fairly good idea of why DC started where they did.

Whats likely to happen now anyone know?

Absolutely nothing will happen. Don't worry

Some people are just very odd. Don't worry about it. Well done your DC for finishing.

What'll happen? Probably nothing, maybe in future the school will not allow adjustments like this at sports days in years to come. That's about it I'm not sure what else they can do or you're fearing they might do. I guess they could "disqualify" your child from the results or add a penalty to their finishing time, but what would be the point given we're talking about an 8yo's sports day sack race?

I guess it would probably be a good idea for the governers to formally issue guidelines as to whether teachers have the power to make decisions like this.

I’m not usually shocked by the behaviour of other parents but that is fucking awful, I’m so sorry you have to deal with this OP. The school should have told them to wind their neck in.
Your child sounds brilliant by the way

What a prize cunt.

this takes me back to a child who always finished last (by someway) at my one’s infants. He really tried and out so much effort in all the parents and fellow pupils cheered and shouted them on.

that’s what you do isn’t it?!

I was chair of governors at a local school. I’d love to have had the chance to respond to this complaint. They say words don’t hurt but I’d have made sure they were sufficiently barbed.

She’s being a prick, she needs to learn the diff between equality and fairness. Reasonable adjustments are to ensure your child is not disadvantaged, nothing wrong with that

Yeah fuck that parent. Probably deeply unhappy with themself. Reasonable adjustments were made for my DCD child yesterday and she wasn't bothered about winning/competing. She was just happy to take part. We cheered for the sporty and competitive children as we did with some of the children who were clearly struggling. Any parent who took aim at that would be deemed absolutely pathetic in my eyes. Don't give it a second thought OP. Glad your DC was thrilled to take part.

I'm mostly shocked at the HT telling you this

Do they really need to ask permission to say it was a child which required a reasonable adjustment?

As the mum of a dyspraxic child, what - and I cannot say this strongly enough - the fuck.

Once this shakes its way out, I would feed back very strongly how disappointed you are the school didn’t have your back immediately, rather than pandering to this bullshit. What next? Is he going to complain that his child hasn’t got a chair with wheels like a child who needs a wheelchair?

Reasonable adjustments are everyone’s responsibility, it shouldn’t need approval for the governors for teaching staff to make this decision.

All the governors should be saying in response is that it can’t discuss the individual needs of other pupils with people who aren’t their parents, but they are committed to creating an inclusive environment that strives to give all their pupils equal chances to achieve. While muttering under their breath that the complaining parent should feck off and get a life and some compassion.

All it's achieved is to upset YOU!

What an absolute arsehole. I hope their house gets infested by flying ants

I'm so sorry this has happened, some parents have no idea. Nothing will happen, hold your head up high and celebrate that your dd took part and finished.

Dear god, when you think you‘ve heard it all...

If that parent is posting about it on the class whatsapp, I‘d be inclined to say pretty much what you‘ve said here, that your child wanted to join in, but due to their disabilities they are allowed to start nearer the line, otherwise they may not be able to finish. And yet they STILL came last.

How on earth is that an advantage?! If they‘d won by a mile, then I guess maybe, but seriously, some people really need to take a long hard look at themselves!

At my kids‘ school, all the parents would have been cheering your DC on like mad when they got past the finish line.

Did you give the HT permission to share the reason?

This is clearly ridiculous.

But I am also surprised the HT teacher told you. Surely this is a very simple quetsion of the HT telling them why this complaint is ridiculous and why.

Sounds like the head is on your side but wants your consent to discuss details with the governors.

The complaining parent is an arse.

That's disgusting. I hope that parent reads this and gets to hear what everyone thinks about their behaviour.

Oh my goodness. It is absolutely shocking that a parent would complain about a school sports day, and in particular about a small child having reasonable adjustments.

It's weird they are asking you to justify the reasonable adjustment. The teachers should be able to explain that to the governors without needing your input. And they should be clearly telling the complaining parent that it was a reasonable adjustment and any further comments from them about this will be taken as discriminatory and appropriate consequences will follow.

Well that parent has made themselves look a total dick to the school governors you can rest assured on that at least!

Sports day brings out the worst in some parents unfortunately. This week we witnessed a Dad trying to help his 5 yo son with a broken arm to run in the race. Basically ran far to fast for the little boy dragging him along who fell and clearly hurt his other arm which was in a cast bringing him to tears of pain. It was really heartbreaking to watch.

This. As a fellow dispraxic l feel bad for your daughter. Sports day is literally the worst! She still came last which can’t have felt great. What does this parent want?!

The school can’t disclose personal information about another child to someone who isn’t their parent, so it’s right that they seek permission. However in this case I don’t think it’s necessary because there’s no need to discuss OP’s child’s needs with the complaining parent. They just need to be put back in their box.

I think the governors should tell the other parent to not be such a dufus and get over herself.

She needs to be shown this too.

I really hope that parent is told in no uncertain terms by the governors to wind their neck in!