It’s kicking off on the class WhatsApp…

[Creamice]

So limited number of tickets for (after) school event.
It is now sold out. Parents are upset that other parents have bought tickets for their younger children meaning that school pupils can’t all attend. Though I suspect there were never enough tickets for all pupils anyway…
should younger (preschool) siblings be allowed to attend? And if so do they need tickets? Discuss.

First come first served. God it's so tiresome that people that didn't book early enough then whinge about it. Their kids will be just like them in future. Joy for all.

Poor teachers. Year in year out dealing with this parental crap.

If they've been told siblings/preschoolers can attend then they haven't done anything wrong in buying tickets on that's basis. I think it's a silly (and brave!) decision of whenever is organising it though.

If it sells out very quickly, it's rather unfair on those whose jobs do not permit them to be checking messages all the time.
Restricting number of tickets per family is reasonable, and I've known schools do this, and then release any spares later on.
If there aren't enough for everyone even with this sort of restriction, then it would be fairer to operate a lottery a couple of days after releasing the tickets, so that those who are not always on their phone get a chance. They already miss out on things like offers of outgrown uniform because someone always beats them to it.

just do it so each child/student at the school can get one ticket each and a parent ticket - ok if you have 3 children at the school you'd get 6 tickets - but how many families have 3 children in one school? Mostly it would be one or two

I think it sounds a bit rubbish that they're letting preschoolers attend a party aimed at infant school attendees.

It's fair enough its first come first serve, and that perhaps not all kids will get to go.

But if its for say 100 kids out 400...and now only 30 from the infant school actually get to go because half the children now has a parent and younger sibling....I can see how its frustrating.

It creates a whole different party.

Preschoolers I'm sure will have their fair share of parties in the future and/or parties aimed at them as will older ones. Not every event needs to be inclusive to the whole family.

I get it makes little difference to the fundraisers who's actually buying the tickets. And just as there is those shouting its unfair that their infant pupil can't attend because of the preschoolers/juniors, they'll be an equally vocal group complaining its unfair that their kid can't go because their 3 other children would have to stay home.

Is it a disco with alcohol served to adults? Our PTA serve alcohol at the disco (to parents obviously!) and because it's their biggest money maker, they really want parents to come, so will absolutely oversell parent/sibling tickets over actual kids in the school.

Edit to add: for clarity I think this is bonkers and that school discos should be for the kids!

If there are not enough tickets for every child in the infants, siblings should certainly not be allowed. Even assuming this is a PTA thing, so volunteer based, tickets for this sort of event should be available for all - if that means running three shorter discos for each year group, that’s what should happen. And if it can’t the school should stop them.

I did once complain about a ‘first come, first served’ event when my dd took her envelope in the next day, asked the teacher to go to the office (which was the system), and wasn’t allowed to (for the good reason that it was school trip day for her class). By the time she took the letter down the next day all the slots were taken. I politely suggested that this was unfair - a ‘wait list’ place came up the next day.

It continues to mystify me that teachers still give their time and effort to doing such things in schools, given the moaning that inevitably ensues.

I’d tell the moaners that maybe they should join the PTA to help organise events in the future. But I also wouldn’t have a Halloween party at school!

As a PP has said, first come first served privileges those able to log on as soon as tickets are released. Lots of parents have jobs where they can't be poised to log on immediately.

I would have thought 2 tickets per child as a first round with a deadline (or one ticket per child with a plus one for an adult per family). Tickets allocated by lottery for all requests submitted by the deadline for any remaining tickets.

Children at the school should have a chance to go before other children, but parents have a deadline by which they need to act.

Wait till the Nativity play! There'll be a whole new 'heated debate' when everybody's parents, steps, grandparents, neighbours, Uncle Tom Cobley and all want to come. Then, of course there's the issue of photos, videoing etc ... such fun! So glad mine are done with all that school lark and WhatsApp wasn't a thing then anyway.

If it’s a fundraiser could the school organise a second date? It sounds very popular

Well, yes, a fundraiser isn't very helpful if it destroys relationships in the process!

A friend is on a secondary school PTA, they always do a year 7 BBQ in September, raising money is important but just as important is making year 7s and their parents feel welcomed!

School kids only - unfair that those who attend the school can't go because some people have larger families.

Discriminated on what basis? Which part of the equality act? lol people need to get a grip

Well where do you expect the preschool children to go while their parents are at the event?

I have an aversion to responding to people who say ‘Discuss’…

Not a great decision on behalf of the school leadership. If there are 4 pupils to every ticket, of course the event is first-come-first-served, but non-pupils should only be allowed tickets once all pupils of the actual school have had a chance to get one, say, open it for a week, and then offer to non-pupil siblings.

Just school kids attend so the parents can drop and go and have enough helpers from staff and PTA

I can't see why parents would need to stay for an event for school children in the school. Taking younger children along seems ridiculous, particularly if there aren't enough tickets for all the school children. If not all tickets are sold then open the event up to younger siblings. It's not 'discrimination' though. The advice is usually to get involved in organising events if you don't like how the current volunteers are doing it.

Couldn't agree more. Intensely irritating.

Who tf does the OP think she is, giving people orders to "discuss" her little issues??

Sounds really badly organised. It should have been school children first and then tickets to any wider family members.

DS & DN’s school has a policy of “child/ren plus two” when it comes to ticketed events. They also do lap tickets for pre-school children (and are vvv strict about them being on laps at busy events).

I can’t imagine any school I’ve ever worked in giving tickets for pre-school siblings before school kids.

Sounds like the school may needvto look at hiring bigger venues in future. I wouldn't be too upset about it. If it was a fundraiser it's good it was successful for whoever was organising it, probably PTA volunteers and hopefully they will learn for next time.
Problem with excluding siblings is so many people will not come because of childcare so you then end up not selling out. It can be hard-to-find get a balance.
At least they advertised that it was limited tickets so first in, first served.

Halloween disco imo should be for the school children only then additional tickets for siblings if there’s extra. I think it’s a bit off to buy tickets that arent for kids in the infant school knowing there isn’t enough. I say that as a mum of 3, I know it’s a pain sometimes getting everyone to places but we have to suck it up.