To be angry with holiday camp?!?!

[Woolwichchicken]

I’ve booked several morning sessions 9am-1pm with my daughter so I can do some KIT work on maternity leave. The camp is at her school but run by an external company.

they have taken her on an all day trip to central London, I knew the trip was happening but stupidly assumed she would be be going as I had only booked a morning session. I assumed some of the staff would stay at the school campus with the morning kids.

i know it might sound silly but I’m don’t feel comfortable with people taking her to central London as the camp is mostly staffed by people who seem to be teenagers. We went to pick her up at one and jo kids came out. They also aren’t picking up their phone, so now I’m having a full on panic that she is somewhere in central London.

As a disclaimer I know she goes in school trips, but that is with her teachers who are much more experienced.

I don’t really understand like how did you assume they would not be taking her .when did you hear about this trip to London like what did they say about it ?

Because I selected a 1pm pick up, not the whole day session that finishes at 5pm.

They texted about the trip this morning but didn’t say that she would be going.

Where did she think she would be if the camp was on a trip to London and you signed a disclaimer?

Are there words missing in your post? You assumed she would be going?

I think you should speak to the childcare providers and get accurate timings next time. ‘X isn’t going on the all day trip as I’ll be picking her up at 1, ok?’

So, did you go and get her at 1 and she wasn’t there?

I dont understand you knew the trip was on ans sent her so of course ahe wpuld be going? Why assume and not just ask?

@Woolwichchicken it all depends how it was communicated about the trip which you haven’t outlined here . Sounds like a miscommunication with assumptions at both sides from what you are saying . But anyway is there a point being “angry” in the grand scheme of things . She probably had a nice day out .

What are you actually worried might happen? They will count them on and off everything. Your child knows that getting lost isn't in her best interests so won't be trying to go AWOL. They will have them in those awful hi Viz vests or identical green hats or something.

Also, don't be patronising to the staff, they might be young but can still look after people. Young people can be brilliant and incredibly capable. You can do a degree in education so could be a trainee teacher aged 18 or 19, not all teachers are 45.

Try not to panic, they’ll have strict rules to follow to make sure all the children are safe. Most likely she’s having a great time and perfectly fine. Did you sign a permission slip for this?

How old is she?

Please don’t panic, she’ll be having a great time.

I think it’s very odd that you signed your DD up for an activity, but assumed she wouldn’t be doing the key part of it. Double check exactly what you agreed to, I’d be amazed if there’s nothing about trips in there.

Why are you angry with them. You knew they were going on a day trip and sent her in so obviously she would go on the trip too. Why wouldn't you discuss this with them and just assume she would stay at the school with multiple staff members?

Okay, I get I should have clarified, but I only paid for a half day session, so I assumed a whole day trip wasn’t included.

i think at the end of the day I don’t feel comfortable with teenagers taking her around London (and I was a teen mum, so no teenager hate, it just makes me anxious), so I might need to cancel the trip days and find another club.

i take her on days out and to museums etc. So she’s not missing out. As I said, it was just so I can do some KIT days whilst on maternity leave, so I don’t really want her going out for whole days, as I’m back at work from September, so I want to spend the time with her.

How old is your daughter?

Sounds like a mistake.

I wouldn't worry. It's not ideal but she'll be fine. It's central London, not a warzone, and she's with responsible adults with childcare experience.

I know she is profile, I just don’t feel comfortable with it (yes school trips make me anxious too, but I send her as I don’t want her to be left out)

How old is she and didn't you need to fill in a permission form to be taken on trips?

You also seem to have found a loophole in the booking system if you can get a full day trip for the price of half a day camp.

They shpuld have clarified there were no 1pm pick ups today in advance.

And I agree with you that I wouldn't be entirely comfortable with teenagers taking children of under 8 on a trip like this. So it depends how old she is.

The little ones can still be a bit unpredictable around busy roads. I've seen lots of school trips in central London (often there for work) and the teachers have to be so, so "on it" with the kids. Whereas at 8 and older, you'd expect a reasonable amount of road sense and basic self preservation instincts.

But she's there now, they've run these trips before and chances are nothing will go wrong.

Why else would they text you about the trip though? If the trip is part of the schedule all the children at the holiday camp would go.as they wouldn't have enough staff otherwise

But if the club was going on an all day trip where did you think she would be. This trip will have been planned and risk assessed. It is vanishingly unlikely that anything will happen to her. Especially if she is sensible and can be relied on to follow instructions.

She is 8. I know some parents are comfortable with it. But I’m not, so I guess it’s not the right camp for us.

There’s obviously been a misunderstanding/some confusion.

Did you send her a the a packed lunch?

I can’t really say that you should be angry with the camp or not because it’s impossible to say whether it’s their mistake or yours.

However your dd will be fine and I bet she’s had a lovely time.

Surely they would have needed permissions and payment to do a trip like this? Travel costs for a start and any attractions they do in London. I would be very confused and not happy about it either op.

But surely you knew she was attending. They will have taken lunch, mentioned the itinerary, transport or something and at 8 she would have told you she was going to London tomorrow?

I agree with you, I am surprised the club are doing a trip like that.
But you also did an awful lot of assuming. in future just ask