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 would imagine all that will happen is the board of governors will all look at each other shocked at how horrid some people can be. Then they will answer the complaint in a polite and official manner explaining how equality works.

Hopefully the complainers child has more empathy than their parent. If the parent sees every adjustment as unfair they are going to spend the next 10 years very stressful when they find out about exam adjustments, 1-to-1 assistants, breakout areas, scribes, issued laptops/tablets, disabled parking....

One child being treated blatantly differently should surely give a big clue that there's a reason for it!

Well done to your DC for giving it a go. Hope they enjoyed themselves!

Firstly OP congratulations to your DS. He sounds really determined and driven to have managed to finish at all given everything going on for him. Lots of children in his position may well have just veered away from taking part at all.

Secondly this parent is in for a huge shock come secondary school... there will be children who get extra time in exams, reasonable adjustments in the classroom (some children in DD's year are allowed to have their phones and photograph the board, another is given copies of printed notes at the end of lesson), allowed to use laptops when others aren't, given toilet passes her child may not receive.. etc. etc.

The point is not to disadvantage other people but to give those who for whatever reason ARE disadvantaged a way towards a level playing field.

I think it's fabulous he finished and I'd have been there cheering him on until the very last jump

What an awful, awful fucker. What a sad life they must lead.

I would tell all the other parents about it, they will support you, most people would be livid that you have been made to feel so bad. This scummer deserves to be ostracised.

Complaining parent is a w***. Really glad your child was given time to finish the course. I think that’s important whether the child has special needs or not. A struggling child showing tenacity and finishing is just as important as a more sporty child winning.

Well done to your son for taking part and well done to the school for making it inclusive.

The complaining parent needs a bollocking. It's not the fucking Olympics and nobody lost out on a first place sticker. What a saddo.

What an absolute twat, I can't believe the school didn't immediately tell them to get a grip.
Reminds me of this cartoon, maybe one to post in the Whatsapp group?

There are always going to be people complaining about everything.
I do not think it was on spirit of school sports day to complain. I would be more concerned with how school deal with complaints and in this case they should not have entertained it and passed onto you.
Hope your child had a fun day

Surely no one is this much of an absolute tool?!

It's been said but once again, what a massive cunt that parent is.

I truly hope that parent stubs their toe on a daily basis.

Nothing will happen except the complainant living a long, lonely, and miserable existence.

I'd post in the WhatsApp group. 'takes a special type of person to complain about a child with disabilities who was just happy they finished a race'.

Some people are collosal bellends OP. Nothing will happen.

The complaining parent is a total arse. Complaining about reasonable adjustments being made for a special needs child is both discriminatory and wanky.

I hope the headteacher and the governors pull them up in such a way as to make them feel suitably small and stupid.

In your shoes OP, I'd also be very tempted to pull up those writing about this on the class WhatsApp group chat by responding to them and writing what you have put here. Might just shut some of them up, at least for a short time.

Sometimes I just wonder what the hell is wrong with some people!! If I saw this sort of arrangement playing out at a school sports day then it wouldn't occur to me to say anything at all. I'd assume there was some good reason for it or it wouldn't be happening.

This is beautiful ❤️

I doubt they are allowed to but the Governors should consider it and respond to the complainant with
"Shame on you"
I despair

That would be a perfect response.

They'd have to be pretty dim to not work it out - but they clearly are dim otherwise they wouldn't have complained!

When my DS was at Primary, I saw all sorts of little adjustments put in place for DCs who had SN - including my DS. As OP said, the children were fine with it, clapping and encouraging the child as they were still going long after everyone else had crossed the line. The children have clearly been educated in sportsmanship by the teachers. I only hope that the HT gives complaining parent a lesson in the same. Whatever happened to 'it's not the winning it's the taking part?'
If I was the HT I'd be putting a carefully worded but cutting comment in the school newsletter about sports day and inclusion.

I'm not at all surprised someone complained; I think some people lose their minds at times. Many years ago I had a child in my class (aged 6) who took steroids as he had leukaemia. Someone complained about his 'advantage'. I wasn't as polite as I should have been.

The English school system sounds fucking mental that they would even entertain this absolute nonsense complaint. The parent should be given short shrift and told to bloody check herself. I'm not sure what will happen but hopefully common sense will prevail. What a terrible woman.

Some people blow my mind with how pathetic they can be. I'm sorry op you shouldnt even have to deal with this, the person who complained should be ashamed of themselves and they seriously need to get a life

At least they have now made it public knowledge that they are a twat.

More importantly, well done your lad. 🎖

God people are arseholes sorry op
Personally I'd like to see some education around inclusion and differences to both children and parents via a newsletter as views like that are shameful and should never called out

Oh ffs what parent would complain about this?! Name and shame them online 👀

This.

DD has SN and was always last at her primary sports day. I was almost crying one year when all the parents and other spectators were clapping and cheering her on as she finished way behind everyone else. She was so excited she said she'd won the race.

I really cannot understand the mentality of someone who would do this.