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?

maybe in future the school will not allow adjustments like this at sports days in years to come

Which would probably be illegal. They'll need to tread very carefully to remove a Reasonable Adjustment already made.

God some people need to get out more. Imagine complains about a child on sports day.

it’s attitudes like hers that make people who’s kids don’t enjoy/aren’t good at physical activity think they need to keep them off on sports day instead of just seeing it as a chance to play some games in the sun and it doesn’t matter if you come first or last.

well done to your DC for wanting to take part even though they find it tough. I hope that parent reflects and feels really stupid.

The complaining parent is an absolute prick. I also have various developmental conditions and disabilities - including dyspraxia - but none of them were diagnosed until I was 30.

Sports day (and PE in general) was a source of huge dread, anxiety and humiliation for me. Your DS absolutely deserves reasonable adjustments to allow him to compete and anyone crying about the unfairness should be utterly ashamed of themselves.

In fact, they're welcome to have some adjustments if they'd like to swap bodies with me? At the moment I have about 15 Mystery Bruises, 4 oh-look-I'm-bleeding-again cuts, and a fairly nasty burn from an ill-advised DIY project. When I got to work this morning, I slapped my favourite flask out of my own hand with such force, the landing dented it. Then I went to the toilet and realised my knickers are on inside-out. Dyspraxia: it's never dull!

Sometimes, the only thing you can do is sit back and enjoy the fact that you, unlike this person, are not a talking scrotum on legs.

Can you imagine being this petty about anything? Let alone about a child having reasonable adjustments so they can join in the fun with the other kids.

Glad they aren't my parent. Fuck them.