Who is being unreasonable - children taken to park during summer camp

[Jimmies]

DS5 is doing summer holiday camp. Run by same people as do his after-school club. The holiday camp is held at the school, in the same hall/area as the after-school club.

Started from 9am this morning. DH dropped DS off at 10.30am (!) but found all the children and the staff had gone to a playground 10 mins walk up the road. So weren't at the school at all.

We weren't told there would be any trips out of the school.

I think if he'd been dropped off on time - it would have been mentioned they were planning on making a little trip. It's only 10 mins walk away, there are only 10 kids.

DH is furious. I think he's been v affected by yesterday's news and is saying no way can they just take kids to the park without us giving explicit permission for them to be taken off site. All the info and marketing of the club was about being at the school doing activities on site.

He wants to pull DS out of the holiday camp (which would NOT be good for DS at all). I want him to stay in the camp - it's with all his friends.

What do you think? I am under-reacting or is he over-reacting?

If it's a good summer program they change the outside activities often, and have themes as the summer goes along.
If not it's the adults standing about watching kids chase about and throw balls about.

Also the group might not have access to the school playground - we ran our playscheme in a part of the school, but other bits of the building including the main playground and Forrest school area weren't available to groups that hired the space. Even close linked ones.

I had an email from one of my children’s summer camps this morning. Noting all their safety precautions in light of the news. So I guess they must have had a couple of anxious parents. I would say, your dh is overreacting. If he is concerned he should mention permission when he goes to collect.

Sorry - just to be 100% clear as PP keep saying 'it is usually on the form etc'.

There is no information anywhere - on the form or the leaftet - that they kids would be taken off site. It has never been mentioned verbally.

I don't mind. Just people keep saying the same thing as I promise you - it has never been mentioned. I've never signed anything actually - just emailed over dates and paid.

they have full use of the very big school playground

@TheYearOfSmallThings I know, but I wouldn't want to spend my summer holidays there, every day! The park is much more fun...

He doesn't get to absolve himself from any of the mental load choosing and arranging the children's holiday clubs and then complain when he firstly doesn't like the way they take care of the children or refuses to manage to get his child there on time, it's not a fucking gym creche.

He is being a twat.

How can you stand him?

DC's are older now, but their holiday club used to take them out every single day. It would be a trip to the museum, a local mini water park, the cinema, bowling, pond dipping in the local river, camp making in a local nature reserve, basically exactly the kind of things I'd be doing with them if I wasn't at work. I was pleased DC weren't missing out, being stuck in the same room, day after day because they had two working parents. It was a phenomenal holiday club and they had some superb summers. No kids want to spend a week stuck in the same place for days at a time during their holidays - how mind numbingly boring for them.

So? It’s the change of scenery. And excercise, 20 minutes walking at least.

You should keep your son at home, honestly.

This.

Agreed - but I'd still be happier with the odd walk to a park for yet more variety, the exercise of the walk etc. More is more sometimes.

So he got your DS to his summer club 1.5 hrs late because he was having a lie in.....?

Taking them to the park is a bit lazy. Staff can sit and chat while children run off.

You don't need any permission for short local walks. It won't count as a trip as it is too near. I'd be more concerned about your husbands reactions, he sounds like an angry person and letting the children see that is wrong.

It’s even more lazy to leave your child at the club when you yourself are on holiday.

I was with your DH all through this (although I'd be pissed if my DH was 1.5 hours late for an activity I had paid for). After your latest update though, I'm even more on his side. No-one at the school knew the children had been taken out?? That's a massive safeguarding issue - what if there had been a fire alarm and 10 children were unaccounted for. If I signed DS up to a club and then found out he'd been taken out without my permission, I'd be furious. What if DS had an accident in the park? Strongly suspect the holiday club wouldn't be insured if the trip wasn't authorised. And verbal consent usually isn't enough these days, you need written permission from every child's parent (incl. permission to use suncream)

Prepared to be told I'm over-reacting too.....

I work in this area. There is no safeguarding issue and walking to places close by does not need to count as a trip.

Maybe the child asked to go? Mine was really excited to do a week at the local one we've got, she loves it.

But that's great? It's the summer holidays, they don't need to have wall to wall directed activities. Running around the park with their friends is perfect.

I disagree with the majority I'm afraid. DD is in a summer holiday club and they have taken her all over the place which I'm delighted with, but I had to give written permission when I registered. I'd be very uncomfortable if I hadn't.

Legally I don't think they're obliged to but it would be best practice.

I wouldn't withdraw DS but I would definitely speak to them and ask if they have other trips planned.

Well I am sure more info can be gained when the child is PICKED UP ON TIME
just like as the child should have BEEN TAKEN ON TIME

Yes maybe. And maybe the staff aren’t lazy either.

But presumably this club doesn’t ask for allergy and medical details, contact names and numbers, home address etc for children booked because this is just additional sessions from a company you already use for childcare (thus they don’t ask for those things because they already have them). I would imagine they’re relying on permission you may well have given when you signed up for afterschool club. If they have never taken children off site, never said they would take them off site and it’s not in any paperwork you’ve ever signed with this company then yes that’s an issue I’d be bringing to their attention. Not because I think it poses a significant risk to my child but because it’s pretty poor communication.

If they are actually running a club accepting children they don’t already have at afterschool care and they have no medical details, no contact numbers for parents and just an email address and a payment then frankly that’s a much bigger safeguarding concern than going to the park!

Was this the first day of summer camp? Maybe there were additional forms to fill in when you start?

Who did DH speak to? Most schools have maintenance work done over the summer, was the person he spoke to involved with the Sumer camp or someone involved with the school

Sorry I've just read your posts in full @Jimmies . Why is your DS even in a holiday club when you have stated your DH is on holiday this week???