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?

Unbelievable. I'm sorry that's happened, it's ridiculous.

My kid has cerebral palsy and uses a walking frame. For the sack race they literally hang the sack off his frame and he runs instead of jumps 😂. He still comes last. Although last year they did an extra race afterwards for some reason, asked who wanted to take part, only he and three other kids volunteered - all the other kids fell over several times and he won the race!!! It was so funny. Everyone cheered.

For the egg and spoon race they're going to tape the egg and spoon to his frame so it can't fall off.

If any of the parents complained I'd be amazed.

Parent who has complained is totally unreasonable and a complete dick! Also rediculous that this has gone to the Governors to deal with rather than being shut down by the headteacher (unless there are other issues with the complaining parent). A similar adjustment was made at Sports Day at our local primary school several years ago - child started half way along the track and ran the whole race with their TA holding their hand. They were cheered on with everyone else and although they didn't win, finished in the mix with everyone else.

Shocking and disgraceful ableism from that parent. If it was my child being complained about I would make a counter complaint about them and their disability discrimination. How dare they. I'm raging on your behalf, OP. Both my DC are autistic. One was very good at school sports, especially running, and the other would always come in last. He has additional needs.

I wonder whether the complaint is not that your child did get a reasonable adjustment but that their child didn't? So the complaint to the govenors is, 'how come Johnny gets to start the race halfway and Jenny doesn't when Jenny has [condition/difficulties] that I think means they should and the teacher said no?' It then comes to you via the head teacher as, someone has complained about your child having an advantage when the situation isn't quite that clear cut.

Or I could be clutching at straws because I can't believe anyone would be that much of a bellend otherwise.

What an awful person. Your child sounds incredible, and your update about their friends patting them on the back brought a tear to my eye. What a shame that this person doesn’t have as much empathy as those 8 year olds. I think I’d struggle to resist saying something in the WhatsApp group but I tend to do things in anger and upset which I regret later so probably not for the best! I hope you get an apology from the school that they didn’t immediately have your back.

What an absolute fucking arsehole that parent is! I hope the response to the complaint is professional h

... but leaves that parent in no doubt about what a shitty person they are.

Sounds like Melissa Albans from Wonder has somehow ended up as a parent in your school.

My dd is NT but was useless at sportsday although she loved it.
one year another dc finished and then went back to help dd complete the obstacle race. 😂
@SackRaceComplainer the other parent needs to give her head a wobble.

I've never been one to condone playground gossip, but god I hope this parent is outed and shamed.

I'd wonder if the complaining parent had even bothered to be at sports day, because if they had seen the race, surely they wouldn't be saying this.

Could their child have come home, said x got to start half way up the course & they're being ridiculous thinking it's some able bodied child who got to do this?

Although last year they did an extra race afterwards for some reason, asked who wanted to take part, only he and three other kids volunteered - all the other kids fell over several times and he won the race!!! It was so funny. Everyone cheered.

💜

Same.

That other parent is an absolute arse.

Just....why?!

This!!

Some people are beyond stupid.

I'd be summoning my coldest coldest withering rage with the Governors, that they would even consider that the adjustments to enable your DC to participate are even up for discussion. Threaten to throw the book at them!

You could also complain about harassment on the class WhatsApp.

And the HT should be taking that other parent aside and reading them the riot act.

Good luck @SackRaceComplainer I hope you find the equanimity to rise above such petty narrow minds.

That person is a total arse. You must be so proud of your wonderful DC for being so determined and finishing the sack race! I am so glad that your DC has found an environment that not only encourages them to join in, but one in which your DC actively insists on joining in. Fuck that person trying to take that away from your DC and other children for whom such adjustments are an essential precondition of them participating.

What an utter idiot that parent is. It would be obvious why your child had an adjustment. I hope school respond with appropriately and firmly making it clear that it’s nothing to do with them. It shouldn’t need pointing out that not all conditions are visible and the school make reasonable adjustments in accordance with their legal obligations.

Some people are miserable f'ers. Let them complain, ignore them.

Well done to your wonderful child for having the courage, enthusiasm and stamina to take part!

If there is a school page/group I'd be sorely tempted to post something about not all disabilities being visible.

In honesty, unlikely that anything will happen. Its school sports day not a gcse paper, and even then reasonable adjustments may come into play.

At DCs primary there were a few children with physical disabilities, one often in a wheelchair, sometimes with a walking frame. When they participated in school sports day they got to begin further forward to allow for this. I got something in my eye when two other children ran/walked alongside the child with the walker, encouraging them to finish and not caring about where they were in the race.

What a dickhead. Nothing will happen.

I hope you were supported on the class WhatsApp. Such batshit comments just need to be shot down.

I cant believe anyone would do that. But first lesson of school - never under estimate how competitive other parents can be. Im very lucky that both my kids are in classes where the parents are all pretty normal, but I have heard some stories from other classes. Well done to your Son for doing so well and hope he enjoyed the day. Just concentrate on your child and im sure the governors will be laughing at this sad parent’s complaint!

Your DC sounds absolutely amazing. If I was to take anything from this interaction, I’d be proud that even though they didn’t take part, they wanted to and showed determination to see the race through to the end, massive respect for that! As for the parent, unfortunately absolute idiots walk amongst us all. I wouldn’t even dream of complaining about this. Even if your DC didn’t win! Sports day should be fun.

anyway, I’m proud of your child x

What an absolute dick this parent is. This is why I am so pleased my DC's have left primary school with the behaviour of some parents. I hope your DC loved taking part and don't let a parent spoil it for next year.