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?

YANBU who is the idiot? Chrissakes

Wow what kind of sad pathetic person would even contemplate doing this. I’m actually speechless that someone could be that spiteful about an SEN child. For something so inconsequential.

What'll happen?

Hopefully the complainant being told to be such a dick!

Not your problem OP - hopefully they'll laugh them out the door.

Unfair advantage my arse!

They deserve to step on a lego. In bare feet.

What an arsehole.
Ignore it OP.
They look bad.
You are best to rise above x

I’ve worked in school governance and I think it’s a case of they’d love the chance to respond to this nut job, minute it and put it on the website in the minutes that they will be supporting children with disabilities as a pretty clear statement for future complaints.

Totally agree with this. Some parents think they are being clever by going directly to the Governors with any minor gripe (usually arseholes like the complainant here). It's a huge waste of the Governors' and Head's time for them to deal with this sort of thing. Whoever received the complaint should simply provide the parent with a copy of the school complaints procedure and tell them to follow it. In my experience if these complainants feel that their issue has been dealt with by the Governors (even if they don't agree) they are spurred on to do it again. If they are told that the procedure needs to be followed they go away as they don't actually want to speak to the class teacher (usually step 1) as they usually want that person to think they are lovely and they have at least an incling that they may come across as twats.

Imagine being such a thoughtless, inane subhuman to even contemplate making a complaint?! The mind boggles. Wow, just wow. Please ignore, what a complete loser this parent is.

Just awful OP.

Inexplicable that someone would do this.

Excellent that you know who it is.

I would 100% judge this parent and actively avoid them going forward if I heard of this happening in my childs class.

Well done to your son.

This

This.

I would be so disappointed in my child if they were whinging on sports day about how unfair it was your DC got a head start.

I would actually ask your DCs teacher to praise the kids that cheered him on, talk about how proud she is of their sportsmanship. This child is having their worst impulses pandered to at home, the school are the only place they'll hear any different.

This. I don't think anything else will happen. The other parent is awful.

YANBU
Absolutely disgraceful the school are even entertaining this. I would make a complaint back that your child is being singled out and complained about by another parent and where is their duty of care and safeguarding for your child? I am so angry about this how dare they do this to an obviously vulnerable child and how dare the school not defend your child and their special accommodations by shutting it down straight away

I don't fully understand why the school are even giving this headspace. Why on earth is it being reported to the governors?

That's insane! What is wrong with people.

Well done to DC for finishing the face 😁

As an adult with dyspraxia I totally sympathise.

What does the WA message say exactly? Is it something like “Can’t believe Alex T was allowed to start halfway down the track! So unfair!”

I am surprised other parents haven’t put them right!

That’s so shocking and upsetting for you. Unfortunately in my 40 years of infant teaching I’m not surprised as I’ve encountered some ridiculous nonsense that if written down no one would believe. I don’t know how I’ve held my tongue sometimes.
As the the parent is so lacking in empathy etc it’s unlikely he will even realise what an idiot he’s been.
Im sorry you had to experience this.

I mean, I'd be more angry with the school tbh. There are weird parents everywhere and they sound like arses, but the school don't have to give it oxygen.

This image was precisely what sprung to mind when you explained the situation. The person who complained clearly has no concept of what equity means. I find it bizarre that this person complaining is even being taken seriously, it's sportsday and a bit of fun not the Olympics. I just feel sorry for staff who have to spend time dealing with such nonsense from parents.

Surely the response should be - thank you so much for bringing this to our attention as it is clear the adjustments were not reasonable. He still came last by a long way so next year will be getting a bigger head start.

What wanker is that bloody invested in sports day?! I'm not sure I could even tell you what place my dc come in any of the events, let alone be bothered with what anyone else's is doing. Dh and I are usually eyeing up how quickly we can tactfully make an exit, not racking up a list of complaints we want to make about anyone else's child.

Urgh some people are just the worst. Well done to your DC. @WhiteFire ’s post is perfect.

Wow. That parent’s a cunt. I hope you find out who it is, purely to see the face of someone that petty, stupid and prejudiced.

Nothing will happen. It's hardly the Olympics with an appeals committee 😂Tell your kid well done for trying and ignore these silly people.