To be p*ssed off that ds1 is missing the school trip today?

[beansprout]

I arrived at school this morning to discover that ds1's class is going on a trip today, but not ds1, as I knew nothing about it.

When I spoke to the teacher she told me that she was not there on the day the forms were given out. This happens to be a day that I work and ds1 goes to after school club so I can see how that by the time he is picked up, at 5pm, he has forgotten about the letter. The teacher said she was surprised that ds1 was not on the list to go, but she does see me on a regular basis, so why not mention it?

Ds1 has struggled to settle in (he has just started reception) so that fact that he going to be left behind today is particularly upsetting.

[AtheneNoctua]

Well????

[helpYOUiWILL]

update please!!!!!

[theGreatPumpkin]

I want to know what happened!

[annh]

Beansprout, what happened?

[paisleyleaf]

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[1dilemma]

Good luck
work out what you want to say and what kind of result you want carefully before you go.

Our head is a masterful example of worming her way out of making any meaningful comment or commitment and twisting things around to suit her own ends!

I have found complaining about anything beyond useless
(however we have a complaint hanging over from the beginning of term which she thinks we've dropped I just happen to be waiting to go on mat leave then I will be straight back to the LA/Ofsted and the govenors)

[beansprout]

The Head called me today and I have arranged to go and see her on Tuesday. She made absolutely no mention of the content of the letter or what happened yesterday. We just arranged a time to meet. Dh is coming too.

I wouldn't like to be on the wrong end of me and dh on this one . Will let you know how it goes!!

[Squishabelle]

Bean - please keep us updated.

[bamboostalks]

Any response from school yet? This was an appalling story.

[AtheneNoctua]

So, what happened? Did he stay at school? Did you collect him early? Poor little guy!

[1dilemma]

YANBU

a sad little story hope your ds was OK

FWIW and sorry it's a bit late to be saying this if he's only 4 he doesn't have to be there anyway!

[megapixels]

Only read the first few posts, but what do you mean the trip is full up? They don't only take a limited number on school trips?

[clam]

Our school lets you register to receive all letters by email. That's quite useful.

Although, an interesting statistic from our secretary: in a school of 450 kids (many of whom are siblings and therefore share some letters) the office invariably have to print off 600 copies, to cater for all those people who ask for extras/repeats/spares as they've lost them/not received them/whatever.

Similarly, they've stopped routinely phoning parents (on mobiles, invariably) about forgotten kit/slips etc... as the phone bill was becoming phenomenal.

[andirobobo]

Sadly it just shows the state of the home to school communication - shocking! You would hope that a reception teacher with 18 children would be able to know who has and who hasnt returned a slip for a full school trip - yes they may not know who all the parents are yet but that is no excuse. They could have passed a message on through the after school club or shock horror phone the parent or even email if they have that.

I feel really sorry for the little beansprout.

We didnt get a letter re parents evening appointment booking - DD who is 7 accused me of losing the letter - no chance! So I had to put a note in her bag. It does not get better as they get older!

The only way I cope is asking daily if there are any letters and then checking with other parents weekly if there have been any letters we have missed. Our school also puts some letters on their website for you to catch up with that way.

[Doodleydoo]

FFS, how stupid are the admin people at this school, they don't give you any information in anyway shape or form, they rely on a 4 year old to get post to you (although possibly more reliable than the current mail sytem ). Just extraordinary really and then they have the gall to threaten you about taking him out of school.

Write to the school, all the governors and I would also either send an email to all the parents in the class/ write a letter to put in the bags of the children.

Then write to your LEA and state the appalling behaviour of the teachers and staff. If that is the sort of behaviour they want then DO then get mean. Nothing like a tigress - do these people not learn.

I wish there was something I could have done, if I was nearer I would have taken him somewhere really fun for you as I expect every single Mnetter would have.

Feel v sad for you both.

[caen]

I haven't read all of the responses but sounds like YANBU. I'm a primary teacher and in our reception letters get put in book bags by an adult because otherwise there's no chance the parent will get them. The reply slips and money have to be sent by the teacher straight to the office and the list is compiled there. Our office staff then send out reminder copies of the letter to those children who haven't responded to give every chance for them to go. If it gets late I as the teacher have phoned the missing parents myself. Really really unfair on a reception child.

[raggie]

YANBU -

Plus, in our school (primary teacher) parents sign a form at the start of the year that gives official authorisation for all educational trips during school time and the forms we send out are really just to let the parents know that their child will be off-site that day, not an official 'permission' slip as permission has already been given!

As others have said: bizarre AND unfair and what the bloody hell were the ones being left behind doing that day while their teacher was off on a trip with the rest of the class.

[FourArms]

This is a really sad story for your DS. I do hope he gets over it, and goes onto love school

[Bumperlicioso]

How awful for your DS. Hope you get an explanation.

[clam]

This is most bizarre. A whole-school trip that is 1st come 1st served? And it's full up, leaving only a handful fo kids left behind?
What sort of trip is it? Educational or a jolly? If it's the former, then they can't leave kids behind on financial grounds, so I'd assume they can't just because they haven't had a slip back. It's common sense to chase up slips, especially as there are so few left behind. What provision were they making for him back at school? And how DARE they threaten you with an unauthorised absence if you remove him. For the record, however, that reflects worse on them than on you. I'd get straight up to the school and take him home. Dare them to make a fuss about it!!
But more than anything else, it's just plain MEAN, to leave a kid out in this way. And I'd be seriously questioning whether I'd want my child in a school that excludes kids. Doesn't say much for their pastoral care.

[2kidzandi]

I don't understand. This happened to me twice with both DS's. The school always had spare forms, and sometimes parents would simply sign it on the morning of the trip. (lots of parents wouldn't return the forms on time) and there's always a spare seat. They also brought spare packed lunches. Couldn't you have just signed a copy of the form that morning and paid there and then?

But teacher should have known.

[KimiTheThreadSlayingAxeKiller]

Take him out of school early and go for pizza of some other treat, poor little sausage,

[beansprout]

I will and thanks again for all your support. Has really helped me through a tricky day!!