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?

I'd be livid. What needs to happen is you need to speak to this absolute knoob head

I'm with the chair of governors above. I would love to write a letter in response to this complaint.
That parent is a prize d*ck and now everyone knows it, if they didn't before.

I am so sorry this has happened. What a prize wanker that parent is, I’d be giving them a wide berth in future.

I love your kid! My child hates sports day as is not athletic and hates taking part knowing they'll come last, is love them to have the spirit yours is showing.

The governors surely should be able to respond generically with 'if school had a policy for all children to be on the start line together that would disadvantage those with disabilities. Our policy is that children who have a disadvantage have adjustments to level the playing field. Here is the dictionary definition of equity.'

Surely that can be said without any personal information being revealed to anyone!
n order for all children to have fair participation

The head at my school would have some (very professional) choice responses ready for that kind of complaint.

Sorry you had to put up with this utter arse op.
(I've namechanged to specifically reply, as my sport is very niche and so my reply tied to other posts will be outing.)
We used to compete at carriage driving, and it was one of the few sports where, at district level, disabled competitors would compete equally against able bodied competitors. As long as your arms work you can compete, iyswim. Before an obstacle round in the competition, competitors have the opportunity to walk the course (a little like show jumping competitors), obviously the able bodied would walk and the disabled competitors would use I think what must have been adapted quad bikes. Some of the twatty able bodied competitors would complain that the disabled had an unfair advantage, because they could scope the obstacles on wheels. The committee would laugh at them, arguing that if this was life's only advantage to a disabled person, then just give them one opportunity to get an advantage.
The point is op, there are twats everywhere, and I would imagine most of the other parents are just as outraged as you by the complaint.
I'm pleased for your son that he got to finish the race and enjoy his day.

so would I

I expect there's a rule that says the governor's have to consider any complaint that comes to them (however ridiculous) - hopefully they will send the parent a polite version of 'dont be ridiculous'. I also have a child who comes last in everything at sports day because of a medical condition - he doesn't have adjustments because he's good at plenty of other things at school so I'm happy for this to be an area where other children shine. But if he did have any adjustments I would be extremely unimpressed if anyone complained... And to be honest anyone who complains about an 8 yos sports day is being unreasonable, unless it's along the lines of teachers or parents humiliating children who struggle with it.

Oh what a fuck stick. I would have to message into the WhatsApp group to call them out on it. Why are people so horrible? Well done to your child, OP.

Agree.

How nasty. That parent should be ashamed of themselves. Your child should get a gold medal for effort and sportspersonship. Ask for this just to see the looks that other parent would give you.

Bloody hell it's a kids sports day not 100m with Usain Bolt!

Sorry OP I hope your DC still had a great time and maybe next year they can be put even nearer to the finish line

It's a school.sports day but he Olympics ,and the teachers are in the right to make adjustments to be inclusive to kids with disabilities,it's called reasonable adjustments!

Not the*

Bloody hell! Some people are just unbelievable. What a mean spirited A hole - so sorry, this is just horrible.

That's awful, what an arsehole!

At DS's school last year there was a boy who had special adjustments to take part in sports day and still came last in everything.

The response from everyone there was to clap and cheer him every single time!

Jesus Christ! Words fail me. What the fuck is that parents problem?! Some people are beyond belief they really are. I'm so sorry @SackRaceComplainer that this idiot parent would even think about complaining about this and upsetting you. I hope the response they get from the Governors is "stop fuckin whinging about a CHILD'S sports race (all in the name of 'fun' remember) and to bare in mind that said child they are complaining about has additional needs so they should try to show an ounce of compassion!" Worded more professionally of course...

Honest to god some people have far too much time on their hands. Whoever it was should be ashamed of themselves. Well done your little one for taking part! 👏

When my DC were at infant school there was a little boy with disabilities. He'd be allowed to start a race by himself but a teacher would help out as soon as he started to get in to difficulties and practically carry him down the course. He'd always be at the back and all the parents would be standing cheering and shouting his name for encouragement and the look of joy on his face when he crossed the line was just awesome. That's how it should be done.

Your DC sounds amazing for trying so hard and persevering.

Presumably this parent wouldn't agree with different categories at the special Olympics either!

Some people are wankers, the most disablist parent with my daughter was the local osteopath. I still give her the finger whenever I drive past her.

The HT should have just told the other parent it’s a reasonable adjustment, it’s her decision and it’s final. She should never have involved you.

And as a former school governor I’d give very short shrift to any such complaint appearing in front of me to determine - starting positions at sports day is a very basic day to day operational matter for the HT and school staff to deal with, it’s not for governors to tell them that that’s a reasonable adjustment (though it very much is), certainly not on the basis of one parent complaining it’s not reasonable. The governors should have thrown the whole thing back to the parent and told them to follow the multi stage complaints process that should be on the website.

I would however want to know such complaints were being made, so I could ask the HT at the next governors meeting what efforts were being made on inclusion during sports events, how children are being supported and integrated at school and how school deals with such absurd complaints without causing further upset to children and their families.

I have read your post OP and the only thing I have picked on and smiled at is your description of your DC during the race, massive well done, it has made me smile.

as for the complainer… over your head. Forget them.

Hope the governors do their job and tell said parent where to get off !
in my experience the kids are much kinder at “ reasonable adjustments “ though. I know if one class at primary who literally moved the goal post forward so their SEND classmate could score a goal.

What an arse. I pity the kid who has to live with a parent like that. Imagine the example they get at home.

Totally agree with focussing on the smiles. Our sports day was yesterday. 5yo DD was a little sad she didn’t win a race. I showed her the videos and said ‘look at how you’re smiling and laughing. You had so much fun, do you really care if you won?’

That is shocking. Hoping they do discuss this issue and agree next year your child needs more of an adjustment and should start much closer to the finish line.