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?

Some people are MASSIVE DICKHEADS. They should be ashamed of themselves for being so awful.

You must be so proud of your courageous, determined and wonderful child. They will grow to be a fantastic adult who will contribute a massive amount to this world.

Unfortunately some people are just wankers.

It's never the children, always an adult.

Well done to your son. In our school people would have been cheering your son on. I hope 99% of the other parents were.

i had someone do similar with my DS who has Autism/Dyspraxia, the only way he'd take part was if i was with him the whole time.. all the other parents had to sit in one place, but i had permission to sit with him and the other kids.

I had a dbs check as a school volunteer.. so i was allowed to sit with him amongst the kids, walk him to each race, meet him at the end...etc

Someone complained, and the school told me about it, but also told me the parent who complained was told politely, but in no uncertain terms to mind their own fucking business and that they were welcome for their child to have the same SEN/Disabilities as my son if they wanted the same 'privileges' as me.

In your situation i'd be having a few choice words along the same lines in the WA group. What an absolute fucking bellend that parent is.

All of this. What an odd response from the other parent, OP.

Some parents get strangely jealous of adjustments made for children. I thought the parent who complained that DS got 1-1 support (through an ehcp) and her child didn’t was bonkers but this one really does take the piss. Strangely they never seem to want to have a child who has more struggles in life than anyone should have to deal with.

sports day brings out the worst in some parents

This is very true, and one of many reasons why some SEND parents feel they have to keep their children home on Sports Day. It's difficult enough for some kids having to deal with the noise, the crowds and the disruption to their routine without ultra-competetive dickheads taking it way to seriously. I'll never forget the year my Autistic DD was paired with the child of one such parent for the 3 legged race. This kids Mum wasn't just cheering normally, she was repeatedly screeching at them so loudly it sounded way more aggressive than encouraging, at one point they fell over and she looked furious. My DD was terrified and burst into tears as soon as the race was over.

What an absolute wanker. Nothing will happen, OP, and I too would enjoy responding to this complaint as a school governor.

Sharing the diagnosis shouldn’t even be asked of you. If a child starts halfway down the track and still finishes last, it’s obvious there’s a bloody good reason why. They’re not going to give Tarquin who wins every race and is captain of the athletics cup a head start, are they?

If all children have to be the same, maybe they should all have the same maths, English, reading books etc too, regardless of their actual needs?

There’s a child in a wheelchair at my dd’s school - would they complain about her TA pushing the wheelchair to enable her to join in sports day, ffs??

It really does make you wonder what goes on in some people’s heads. Maybe just feel sorry for the empty headed idiot who complained.

Exactly the same situation with me! Was allowed to stay with DS at sports day and also I went along on trips (at the request of the school) to be one on one with DS with has autism, SPD and dyspraxia. Someone complained about my "privileges" 🤣. It was so ludicrous the when the teachers told me we all just laughed. I know who it was and they are a massive miserable cunt so I really couldn't have given a shit.

@VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji

I laugh every time I see your user name on a thread. 😆

penalty? the child came last and finished 2 minutes behind the rest of them. What other penalties does the child need?

OP says the wanker complainer went straight to the Govenors.

Oh Lord, that's so hurtful. My DS has exact same, shame on that person. I hope someday karma will get them

What a Grade A cunt that person must be. I hope they're reading this thread.
Don't worry, OP, nothing will happen except the governors having a good laugh.

I would prob post on the WhatsApp in responsive to the other posts - my child has dyspraxia - he has was given an advantage in the recent sack race due to his disability. He came last but really valued being part of sports day. I am aware that a parent has complained that he was given an advantage. If there are any parents are ok that he was given an advantage can you please let your feelings known to the teacher as the board is going to decide about whether children with physical disabilities can continue to be given advantages in future sports days.

They'll be made to hand back their winners trophy........ oh wait...... 🤔

No, nothing will happen other than all the teachers will know that the other parent is a twatty Karen.

As a governor I would refer the parent to the complaint policy, as I assume they have bypassed it. But would probably refer them to the schools's Equality Policy and possibly that picture another poster has shared, to hopefully make them think and realise what an awful person they are being

Oh - and just to add - in the special olympics disabilities are classified so that you only compete against people with similar disabilities, or are given time adjustments - that's all that happened here. Don't even waste your time considering it. Shame on the complainer.

I actually feel a bit sorry for this other mother for being a grade A weirdo. With that attitude, her child won’t have an easy life.

My son has dyspraxia too. He is very academic but struggles with balance and has v. poor fine motor skills. He chose not to attend the annual school trip as it usually involved visiting some kind of adventure playground which is DS’s idea of pure hell.

Primary school had an external company in to give them bike riding lessons for an hour once a week for a 6 week period and provided bikes for those children that didn’t have one. Those that could ride would be taken into the village to learn about safely riding on the roads etc.

He started off with a balance bike and was assigned a teacher on a 1:1 basis as he was the only one who still couldn’t ride after 4 weeks. On the final session, he managed to pedal up and down the church car park and turn by himself and the other children saw him as they returned from their fun bike ride.

When DS walked back into the classroom, he received an impromptu standing ovation from his classmates. I don’t know who I was more proud of, DS for managing to ride briefly or his classmates who are all growing into super young teens.

That's awful of the other parent, I'm so sorry. Good on your dc for trying. I have dyspraxia and I used to try and avoid doing anything at sports day.

What would happen if it were my child would be me going apeshit at that awful parent.

However, YMMV

That’s awful. It’s not as if your child beat their child, so what on earth are they complaining about?