what do you think of this?

[cheeryface]

for the 4th year running ds school is having 'grandparents day'

the grandparents come to school, sit in classroom, look at work, play out, have dinner with child and then the children put on a show for them.

only trouble is, letter states, only grandparents and no alternatives.

so, ds2 has no grandparents to attend as is for a few i assume. but they will be sat in a crowded classroom while all the other grannies are ooing and ahhing and then they will have to put on a dance / show for them too.

i think it is mean.

ds2 will feel so left out

well all the kids have a parent or guardian but not all have a grandparent.

they could give them more of a chance and let an aunty'/uncle/mum go instead

have you suggested that to teh school?

well, not me personally, but my friend went in and asked and was told, no, only grandparents

special person day would be more appropate imo.

yes, that would be much better

I think you need to start more of a discussion with the school about this.

You are only looking at it from you rpoint of view (fair enough I suppose) so find out if there's a bigger picture you;re missing or if there' s room to change.

OK, so you may have left it a bit late for this year to do much about it, although I would still go in this evening and query it. Does he have any close friend in te class who is taking two grandparents - would they be persuaded to give him a bit of special attention too whilst he is around?

I would still send him to school. Not wanting to the dance isn't an issue IMO. Sometimes we all have to do things we aare not keen on, so getting used to that idea is part of what we have to learn.

And then you need to speak to the headteacher about the policy on this in the future. Explain your problems with it and outline some suggestions, and ask why these could not be implement so as to avoid discriminating against children with no grandparents and to avoid potentially upset children or children being made to feel left out.

Possible solutions to suggest:

• parents and grandparents day
• older person's day (works really well inviting local eldery residential home for concert, etc.)
• special person's day